Please tell me how I will get a STD or HIV from unprotected anal sex from my partner. More information about donating blood is available HERE.ġ. Because I was stationed Germany in the 80's They explained that such “window period” risks have been negated by modern blood tests, which “can detect HIV-positive donors within just 10 to 21 days of infection.” To ensure such risks were minimized further, their proposal included a “one-year deferral following male-to-male sexual contact.” In many parts of the country, blood supplies are critically short. Yet last year, the Red Cross, the international blood association ABBA, and America’s Blood Centers all called on the FDA to reverse the ban. Therefore FDA would change this policy only if supported by scientific data showing that a change in policy would not present a significant and preventable risk to blood recipients. For this reason, a person could test negative, even when they are actually HIV positive and infectious. During this time, a person is infected with HIV, but may not have made enough virus or developed enough antibodies to be detected by available tests. Together, we will work toward an inclusive and equitable blood donation process that treats all potential donors with equality and respect, and ensures a safe, sufficient blood supply is readily available for patients in need.FDA Reiterates Ban On Gay Men Donating Blood, Despite Red Cross Objections Gay men are still banned for life from giving blood, “leaving in place - for now - a 1983 prohibition meant to prevent the spread of HIV through transfusions.” The Food and Drug Administration’s ban prevents an estimated 62,300 gay and bisexual men per year from donating blood, despite the Red Cross calling the policy “medically and scientifically unwarranted.” On its website, the FDA attempts to justify the 24-year-old rule by arguing that current HIV testing cannot always pick up right away when someone is HIV positive: The ‘window period’ exists very early after infection, where even current HIV testing methods cannot detect all infections. We ask advocates and stakeholders to join us in this important dialogue around the existing deferral policy and pathways toward achieving our goal, while recognizing the need to always maintain patient safety. blood collection organizations to gather and provide data to the FDA for additional research and evaluation. While the Red Cross is regulated by the FDA and cannot unilaterally enact changes in the MSM deferral policy, we continue to work with other U.S.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that every blood recipient receives safe, lifesaving blood when needed. We also strongly support the expanded use of new technologies to work toward elimination of donor eligibility questions that would no longer be necessary. This is consistent with policy changes made by several other countries including Canada and Great Britain. We are committed to working toward achieving this goal.Īs a scientifically-based interim step, the Red Cross encourages the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider reducing its deferral time for men who have sex with men (MSM) from twelve to three months while further options are evaluated for the United States. As such the Red Cross believes blood donation eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based upon sexual orientation. The American Red Cross seeks to build an inclusive environment that embraces diversity for all those who engage with our lifesaving mission. The agency released a following statement on Thursday: