NEW YORK- Following a summer of low blood donor turnout, the New York Blood Center (NYBC) is taking steps to welcome new donors. The organization’s new donor screening process will be based on an individual donor assessment rather than sexual or gender identity.
According to NYBC, the region’s blood supply is well below the optimal 5-7 days. All blood types are needed and platelets are critically low.
Beginning Monday, the new donor screen process will focus on individual donor assessment based on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final guidance establishing a blood donor screening process based on individual donor assessment rather than sexual or gender identity.
In preparation for this change, NYBC has completed the adoption of the donor history questionnaire, updated and validated computer systems regulated by the FDA, trained staff, and updated operational procedures.
“For decades, we have strongly advocated for scientifically-based changes to the FDA policies regarding gay and bisexual men and this recent decision by the FDA is a huge step toward making blood donation more inclusive,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center.”
Blood centers are regulated by the FDA and must adhere to their donor eligibility policies. In 1983, the FDA instituted a lifetime deferral on blood donations for gay and bisexual men in order to reduce the chance of HIV in the blood supply at a time when testing was limited or non-existent. In 2015, the FDA revised this policy and moved to a 12-month deferral for men who have sex with men in response to comprehensive testing capabilities and data demonstrating safety in shortened deferral. This policy was revised again in 2020 to the current 3-month deferral.
“We look forward to welcoming these new donors to our centers and blood drives, especially during a national blood emergency and following a tough summer with low donor turnout,” said Cefarelli. “We’re…
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