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LGBTQ+ Donor Information

Versiti welcomes newly eligible blood donors August 28, 2023!

FDA Issues Final Guidance on Individual Risk Assessment for Blood Donations May 11, 2023. 

The blood community strongly supports the use of rational, science-based deferral periods that are applied fairly and consistently among blood donors. The release of this final guidance is the next step in a lengthy, evidence-based process of welcoming previously deferred individuals as blood donors. 

This change by the FDA is in alignment with changes made in other countries.

For more information visit the FDA website

How is the change more inclusive? 

Under this guidance, all prospective donors will be asked about new and/or multiple sexual partners in the past three months. This reflects the fact that diseases caused by infectious agents such as HIV could be contracted by anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. 

  • If they answer no to both new and multiple sex partners, there is no risk of a newly acquired transfusion-transmitted infection. They will not be asked about the type of sexual contact and will move on to the next question
  • If the donor reports having a new or more than one sexual partner in the past three months, there is some risk of a newly acquired transfusion-transmitted infection, so they will be asked if they’ve had anal sex over the past three months with any of these partners. If yes, then they will be required to wait three months from when they most recently had anal sex to donate.
  • Those who report having a new or more than one sexual partner and had anal sex in the past three months will be temporarily deferred from donation.
  • If they have not had anal sex with the new and/or multiple partners and meet all other eligibility criteria, they will be able to donate. By asking all potential donors the same questions about their sexual behavior, this change recognizes that diseases caused by infectious agents such as HIV could be contracted by anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.

 

LGBTQ+ Blood Donor Eligibility Guidelines


Versiti is committed to fostering an environment of support and inclusion and acting as an agent of change.

We believe in making blood donation more accessible to the LGBTQ+ community and are taking steps to advocate for change at the federal level through ongoing research at Versiti Blood Research Institute. We also stand in full support of efforts by our peers and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make blood donation more inclusive.

Our top priority is the safety of our donors and the patients we serve. We are required by law to adhere to these guidelines.

FDA Guidelines: LGBTQ+ Blood Donor Eligibility

The new 2023 FDA Guidance no longer defers men who have sex with men and deems this gender-based question irrelevant to establishing blood donor eligibility. Instead, eligibility is based new guidelines that evaluate all donors equally regardless of gender or preferred partners and consider anal sex with new or multiple partners in the last three months regardless of sexual orientation.

There is no deferral for women who have sex with other women.

Individuals who do not have sex with other people may be eligible to donate.

The FDA guidance states, “In the context of the donor history questionnaire, FDA recommends that male or female gender be taken to be self-identified and self-reported.” This means that you can answer “male” or “female” on the donor questionnaire as you self-identify. Your eligibility is based on the donor criteria of your reported gender.

Our staff members are required to confirm your demographic information, including gender, but if our records have the incorrect gender, you may ask for it to be changed. You do not need to tell Versiti staff at the donation site that you are transgender. However, if you have previously donated at Versiti and have changed your name as well, it is important to link your old donation record with your current one. You may request this update prior to your donation by calling Versiti customer service.

The 2023 FDA guidance based on behavior applies to trans donors regardless of gender identity. The new Donor History Questionnaire is gender-neutral and will pose all questions to all donors regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Transgender individuals are welcome to donate blood.

The FDA requires donors to select either male or female when completing their donor questionnaire. You do not need to tell Versiti staff that you are intersex.

We welcome all prospective blood donors and understand that there’s a difference between biological sex and gender. However, the FDA requires donors to select either “male” or “female” when completing their donor questionnaire.

Eligibility FAQ's

Under the 2023 FDA guidance eligibility will be based on the new guidelines that consider anal sex with new or multiple partners in the last three months regardless of sexual orientation. So if you have been deferred for having sex with a man in the past that deferral is terminated and you are eligible to donate if you meet all current criteri

Yes. If your permanent deferral was because of MSM contact, you may be eligible to donate now.

Yes, if you have been with your partner more than three months. Under the 2023 FDA guidance eligibility will be based on the new guidelines that consider anal sex with new or multiple partners in the last three months regardless of sexual orientation

Unfortunately, no, the FDA guidance does not allow us to consider condom use. While an excellent sexual health practice, condom use isn’t included as an evidence-based method of screening donors because condoms are not always effective and can break or slip. The new screening questions are not comprehensive in asking about safe sexual practices, such as condom use, that can effectively mitigate the risk of acquiring HIV.   The updated questions are designed to be applied as broadly as possible to screen a large number of potential donors and identify the possibility of new exposures to certain viruses within the window period of testing platforms.

Yes. Under the 2023 FDA guidance eligibility will be based on the new guidelines that consider anal sex with new or multiple partners in the last three months regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Yes. Under the 2023 FDA guidance eligibility will be based on the new guidelines that consider anal sex with new or multiple partners in the last three months regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation

Donor eligibility criteria for transgender donors aren’t affected by whether or not you’ve had any kind of gender-affirmation surgery.

There is no deferral for HRT that has been prescribed to you by a physician. However, if you are taking acne medication to treat side effects of testosterone HRT, you may be deferred. Check the medication deferral list  to confirm your eligibility.

Yes. Every donated unit of blood, platelets and plasma undergoes rigorous testing for a number of infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis and more. If a unit of blood passes these tests, it is considered safe for patients.

No. If you are currently taking medication to prevent HIV infection (such as PreP, PEP, Truvada, Descovy, Apretude) you are not eligible to donate. Those who take oral PrEP or PEP are deferred from donation for three months from their most recent use. For those who have received PrEP by injection, the deferral is two years from the most recent injection. These medications are important to sexual health. If you are currently taking medication to prevent HIV infection you should not stop the medication for the purpose of donating blood.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective medication regimen used for HIV prevention.   In people taking PrEP or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), low levels of HIV may be missed by current testing methods. The blood community relies on accurate HIV testing as part of its multilayered approach to safety. There needs to be more research on how PrEP and PEP affect HIV testing

There are lots of ways to get involved in Versiti’s lifesaving mission, including:

Schedule Your Donation or Host a Drive
 

Every day, patients in your community need blood transfusions to survive and thrive. They rely on the generosity of donors like you, who help ensure a safe, healthy blood supply. Make an appointment to donate blood today.

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