January 27, 2023
The FDA is proposing a change to the way men who have sex with men are treated when it comes to giving blood.
Just in case you didn’t know — originally during the aids epidemic — gay and bisexual men were completely prohibited from donating blood out of fear of HIV getting into the blood supply. Over the years the FDA has eased up on those rules. Under most recent 2020 policy, men who have sex with men can donate blood only if they haven’t had sexual contact with other men for three months.
Well today – the FDA is proposing yet another change. This one eliminates that three-month time frame and instead screens the eligibility of all potential donors based on a series of questions that assess their HIV risk – regardless of gender. Anyone taking medications to treat or prevent HIV — including PrEP – would still not be eligible. And of course, it’s important to note – blood banks always screen the donated blood for various infectious diseases.
Now this isn’t done yet – there will be a 60 day comment period then the FDA will review the comments and issue a final rule – possibly by the end of the year.
Read the changes from the FDA here.
