![]() The Red Cross and FDA are involved in ongoing research, data collection and assessment related to transfusion safety, including the use of HIV preventative medications, and will continue to seek opportunities that could potentially help lead to additional changes. The Red Cross and the FDA support individuals making responsible choices for their health and the broader health of our communities. ![]() If you have ever taken a drug to treat an HIV infection, known as antiretroviral therapy or ART, you are deferred from blood donation permanently since antiretroviral drugs do not fully eliminate the virus from the body, and donated blood can potentially still transmit HIV infection to a transfusion recipient. Individuals with specific questions about eligibility can contact the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-86. We understand this is not ideal for individuals who do not identify as male or female, and are committed to working with the FDA to continue to make blood donation more inclusive. However, there are still some gender-specific eligibility criteria – such as height to weight ratio for certain donation types and iron levels – which require individuals to select either male or female on the donor history questionnaire. Under the FDA’s individual donor assessment guidance, the donor history questionnaire is gender-neutral and all donors will answer the same questions regardless of gender. The Red Cross also knows that there is a difference between biological sex and gender. The Red Cross values all potential blood donors and understands that selecting either male or female may not align with how some individuals identify. There are no donor eligibility criteria related to being non-binary or gender non-confirming. The waiting period is required due to these drugs interfering with viral replication and thus possibly altering the detectability of diagnostic and screening tests for HIV, including extending the window period prior to detectable infection or a delay in producing antibodies. If you have taken a drug to prevent an HIV infection, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP or PEP), you are asked to wait three months from last oral dose and two years from last injection to donate blood. Any individual, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, who has had new or multiple sexual partners in the last three months, and also had anal sex in that timeframe, will be asked to wait three months to donate blood from last anal sex contact. This includes sexual behavior questions to assess individual risk factors. Under the FDA’s individual donor assessment eligibility criteria, the donor history questionnaire is gender-neutral and all donors will answer the same questions regardless of gender or sexual orientation. ![]() The words “have sexual contact with” and “sex” are used in some of the questions, and apply to any sexual activities (vaginal, oral, or anal), regardless of whether a condom was used during the activity. Health history questions are based on past and current behavior risks (for example: travel, medication, sexual activity, etc.) Sexual activity questions are based on specific behaviors, not on sexual orientation. The donation criteria and questions on the health history questionnaire are designed to ensure that the blood collection process is as safe as possible for the donors as well as for the recipients of blood. Learn more about blood donation eligibility.ĭuring the pre-donation health history screening, the Red Cross uses a questionnaire that is developed by the blood industry’s professional organization, AABB, and approved by the FDA to assess an individual’s health history. blood collection organizations. The FDA requires all potential blood donors to answer questions related to their health history before each donation. These eligibility criteria apply to all U.S. All blood donors are required to meet FDA eligibility criteria to donate blood, every time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |