Welcoming More Donors: Strengthening Our Community, Saving More Lives
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.
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:
- Hosting a blood drive in your community
- Joining the organ and tissue donor registry
- Volunteering your time
- Making a financial gift toward lifesaving research
- Becoming a community partner
UPDATE: FDA Proposes Individual Risk Assessment for Blood Donations January 27, 2023, for more information visit the FDA website.
According to their website, “The FDA will closely monitor the effects of the current changes over the next few years in order to help ensure that blood safety is maintained. At the same time, the FDA will continue to work in this area and review its donor deferral policies to ensure they reflect the most up-to-date scientific knowledge. This process must be data-driven, so the timeframe for future changes is not something that can be predicted.”
Versiti’s research has been used to support modifying the MSM donor policy to make blood donation more accessible. However, the FDA regulates blood donation requirements at the federal level.
To help support changing these laws, please contact your state’s elected representatives.