The agency said it will recommend a series of “individual risk-based questions” similar for every donorregardless of sexual orientation, gender or sex.
Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships allowed to donate blood.
The FDA said that blood donation establishments “can now implement” the new policy, but it is unclear how long it will take for donation centers to change their procedures. The agency did not set a deadline.
“The FDA is working diligently to evaluate our policies and ensure that we have the scientific evidence to support individualized risk assessment for donor eligibility while maintaining appropriate safeguards to protect the recipients of the products. blood,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Under current FDA guidelines for donating blood, men who have sex with men are allowed to donate blood after a three months deferral period where they abstain from intercourse with men. This change was made in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, after previous guidance mandated a 12-month grace period.
The new policy defeats time-based restrictions in favor of what officials describe as a more inclusive policy based on scientific evidence, while also maintaining the safety of the blood supply.
“The implementation of these recommendations will represent a significant milestone for the agency and the LGBTQI+ community,” Marks said.
The move was praised by advocacy groups that have been pushing the FDA for decades to make changes.