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The U.S. is shifting to ease restrictions on blood donations from homosexual and bisexual males and different teams that historically face greater dangers of HIV. Right here, tubes direct blood from a donor right into a bag in Davenport, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.
Charlie Neibergall/AP
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Charlie Neibergall/AP
The U.S. is shifting to ease restrictions on blood donations from homosexual and bisexual males and different teams that historically face greater dangers of HIV. Right here, tubes direct blood from a donor right into a bag in Davenport, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.
Charlie Neibergall/AP
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 collection of “particular person risk-based questions” that would be the identical for each blood donor, no matter their sexual orientation, gender or intercourse. Those that have had anal intercourse with a brand new sexual associate, or a couple of sexual associate, inside the final three months could be requested to attend to donate blood.
“The implementation of those suggestions will signify a major 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 pointers, 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 pointers 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 through which they chorus from having intercourse with one other man.
Whereas the variety of individuals eligible to donate blood has expanded, the company mentioned it can proceed to watch 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 utterly prohibited from donating blood. However over time, the FDA in the end relaxed the lifetime ban. Nonetheless, the company nonetheless saved some limits in place.
The newly up to date pointers are geared toward addressing years-long criticisms that the earlier coverage was discriminatory and outdated, and posed yet one more barrier to bolstering the nation’s blood provide.
Blood banks already routinely display screen 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 course, advocates say
Response to the information has been largely optimistic 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 unbiased blood facilities, in a press release.
Fry mentioned that the FDA’s remaining steering relies on knowledge that exhibits the most effective safety towards ailments, like HIV, is thru robust 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 a assertion, saying “The FDA’s determination to comply with science and problem new suggestions for all Individuals, no matter sexual orientation, who selflessly donate blood to assist save lives, alerts the start of the top of a darkish and discriminatory previous rooted in concern and homophobia,”
Nonetheless, Ellis mentioned whereas the brand new steering is a step in the best course, there’s nonetheless a barrier for LGBTQ+ people who find themselves on PrEP, an FDA-approved drug confirmed to forestall the transmission of HIV, who might wish 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.
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