The U.S. is shifting to ease restrictions on blood donations from homosexual and bisexual males and different teams that historically face increased dangers of HIV. 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 increased dangers of HIV. Here, tubes direct blood from a donor right into a bag in Davenport, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

Charlie Neibergall/AP

The Food 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 news release, the federal company mentioned it would advocate a sequence of “individual risk-based questions” that would be the identical for each blood donor, no matter their sexual orientation, gender or intercourse. Those who’ve had anal intercourse with a brand new sexual associate, or multiple sexual associate, inside the final three months could be requested to attend to donate blood.

“The implementation of these recommendations will represent a significant milestone for the agency and the LGBTQI+ community,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, 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 not must chorus from intercourse with the intention to donate blood.

Previously, FDA tips for donating blood — which had 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.

While the variety of folks eligible to donate blood has expanded, the company mentioned it would proceed to observe the protection of the blood provide.

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

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

At first, homosexual and bisexual males had been fully prohibited from donating blood. But over time, the FDA finally relaxed the lifetime ban. However, 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 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 Association, the American Red Cross and quite a few LGBTQ+ advocacy teams have known as for a rule change.

The modifications are a principally welcome shift in a brand new course, advocates say

Reaction to the information has been principally optimistic from advocates, medical teams and blood banks.

“This shift toward individual donor assessments prioritizes the safety of America’s blood supply while treating all donors with the fairness and respect they deserve,” mentioned Kate Fry, CEO of America’s Blood Centers, a non-profit group that brings collectively community-based and unbiased blood facilities, in a statement.

Fry mentioned that the FDA’s ultimate steerage relies on knowledge that exhibits the perfect safety in opposition to illnesses, 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 a statement, saying “The FDA’s decision to follow science and issue new recommendations for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, who selflessly donate blood to help save lives, signals the beginning of the end of a dark and discriminatory past rooted in fear and homophobia,”

However, Ellis mentioned whereas the brand new steerage 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 could need to donate blood.

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

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