FDA relaxes blood donation guidelines for gay and bisexual men : NPR

The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) mentioned Thursday it had formally eradicated restrictions that had beforehand prohibited many blood donations by homosexual and bisexual males — a longstanding coverage that critics say is discriminatory.

In a information launch, the federal company mentioned it can advocate a sequence of “particular person risk-based questions” that would be the similar for each blood donor, no matter their sexual orientation, gender or intercourse. Those that have had anal intercourse with a brand new sexual companion, or a couple of sexual companion, throughout the final three months can be requested to attend to donate blood.

“The implementation of those suggestions will characterize a big milestone for the company and the LGBTQI+ group,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Heart for Biologics Analysis and Analysis, mentioned within the launch.

With the up to date tips, most homosexual and bisexual males who’re in a monogamous relationship with a person will now not must chorus from intercourse with a view to donate blood.

Beforehand, FDA tips for donating blood — which have been final up to date in 2020 — acknowledged that males who’ve intercourse with males are allowed to donate blood after a three-month deferral interval during which they chorus from having intercourse with one other man.

Whereas the variety of folks eligible to donate blood has expanded, the company mentioned it can proceed to observe the security of the blood provide.

The 40-year-old restrictions have been to guard the blood provide from HIV

Restrictions on donating blood date again to the early days of the AIDS epidemic and have been designed to guard the blood provide from HIV.

At first, homosexual and bisexual males have been fully prohibited from donating blood. However over time, the FDA in the end relaxed the lifetime ban. Nevertheless, the company nonetheless saved some limits in place.

The newly up to date tips are geared toward addressing years-long criticisms that the earlier coverage was discriminatory and outdated, and posed one more barrier to bolstering the nation’s blood provide.

Blood banks already routinely display donated blood for HIV.

And for many years, organizations together with the American Medical Affiliation, the American Purple Cross and quite a few LGBTQ+ advocacy teams have referred to as for a rule change.

The adjustments are a largely welcome shift in a brand new path, advocates say

Response to the information has been largely constructive from advocates, medical teams and blood banks.

“This shift towards particular person donor assessments prioritizes the security of America’s blood provide whereas treating all donors with the equity and respect they deserve,” mentioned Kate Fry, CEO of America’s Blood Facilities, a non-profit group that brings collectively community-based and impartial blood facilities, in an announcement.

Fry mentioned that the FDA’s ultimate steerage relies on knowledge that reveals one of the best safety towards ailments, like HIV, is thru sturdy testing of all blood donation — and a uniform screening course of for every donor.

President and CEO of GLAAD Sarah Kate Ellis echoed that approval in an announcement, saying “The FDA’s choice to comply with science and subject new suggestions for all Individuals, no matter sexual orientation, who selflessly donate blood to assist save lives, indicators the start of the tip of a darkish and discriminatory previous rooted in concern and homophobia,”

Nevertheless, Ellis mentioned whereas the brand new steerage is a step in the suitable path, there may be nonetheless a barrier for LGBTQ+ people who find themselves on PrEP, an FDA-approved drug confirmed to stop the transmission of HIV, who could need to donate blood.

“GLAAD urges the FDA to proceed to prioritize science over stigma and deal with all donors and all blood equally,” she added.

NPR’s Rob Stein and Will Stone contributed to this report.