United States have used a two-phase screening procedure to decrease Since March 1985, blood- and plasma-collection centers in the Should Refrain from Donating Blood and Plasma - United States Update: Revised Public Health Service Definition of Persons Who For assistance, please send e-mail to: Type 508 Accommodation and the title of the report in the subject line of e-mail. He lives in Washington, D.C.Persons using assistive technology might not be able to fully access information in this file. Oliver has a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
I'll say it again: Men who have sex with men can only give blood if they abstain from having sex for three months.ĭavid Oliver is an entertainment reporter at USA TODAY covering diversity and inclusion. It's too important a time to be selfish in any capacity. If this ban were lifted, I would fight my fear and donate blood. Given this pandemic, I want to do everything I can to help those in need. Imagine all the lives we could save if the FDA unburdened men who have sex with men from this block?įor its part, the Red Cross isn't exactly a fan of the policy: "The American Red Cross believes blood donation eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based upon sexual orientation," reads a statement on its website. The Red Cross is involved in a pilot program (funded by the FDA) with other organizations to possibly use other criteria for donor eligibility. The Red Cross is responsible for 40% of the nation's blood supply and has had to recently curb how much blood it delivers to hospitals. Blood drive cancellations and staffing issues have plagued the organization as well. Since the pandemic began, the Red Cross suffered a 10% decline in volunteers donating blood. Over the eight years since then, it has been too easy for me to throw my hands up and say: "Well, I can't even donate anyway." But during this time of crisis, I would give anything to help. I was 21 years old and passed out shortly after doing it. The first and only time I donated blood, I hadn't had sexual contact with another man. Heck, I hadn’t yet come out. Watch Video: Coronavirus: What to do if you believe you're infected
Since I have had sex within the three months, I am ineligible – despite the fact I take Truvada for PrEP (an HIV preventative drug) every day and receive a full sexually transmitted infections panel every three months in order to keep receiving prescriptions.
But it's not 100% effective in donors who may have been infected recently. The agency updated this policy in December 2015, removing the lifetime ban but requiring a one-year abstention (followed by a " scientifically-supported" three-month abstention).Ī common question: Doesn't the Red Cross test all donated blood? Yes, it's tested for infectious diseases. The FDA first banned men who have sex with men from donating blood in 1983 as the HIV/AIDS crisis unfolded. Rage only the FDA could quell with a policy change. Two years into this pandemic, my frustration about this situation has ballooned into a fireball of rage. Previously it asked men to abstain for a whole year. Men who have sex with men can give blood only if they abstain from having sex for three months – a change the agency made in April 2020. But due to a discriminatory Food and Drug Administration statute, not all healthy people can donate. The American Red Cross is asking for blood donations from healthy people in the wake of a blood crisis brought on by the omicron surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Note: This column, first published in March 2020, has been updated to reflect the latest developments.