Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can donate blood in the U.S. without abstaining from sex, under a federal policy finalized Thursday by health regulators.
The Food and Drug Administration guidelines ease decades-old restrictions designed to protect the blood supply from HIV. The agency announced plans for the change in January and said this week the new approach can now be implemented by blood banks.
Instead, all potential donors — regardless of sexual orientation, sex or gender — will be screened with a new questionnaire that evaluates their individual risks for HIV based on sexual behavior, recent partners and other factors. Potential donors who report having anal sex with new partners in the last three months will be barred from giving until a later date.
Gay rights groups have long opposed blanket restrictions on who can give blood, saying they discriminate. Medical societies including the American Medical Association have also said such exclusions are unnecessary given advances in blood testing. The FDA sets requirements and procedures for U.S. blood banks. All potential donors answer questions about their sexual history, injectable drug use and any recent tattoos or piercings, among other factors that can contribute to the spread of blood-borne infections. Donated blood is then tested for HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis and other infectious diseases.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New blood donation rules allow more gay men to give in USNew blood donations rules will allow sexually active gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships to give in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration guidelines ease decades-old restrictions on blood donations put in place to protect the blood supply from HIV
Read more »
Biden sets up fight with Texas, other states over clean power planThe Biden administration will announce Thursday tough new rules on power plant emissions...
Read more »
The Mrs. Davis Writers’ Room Was Built With New Voices and New Values“There’s a finite amount of microphones in this job,” says co-creator Damon Lindelof. “You have to put down the mic and let someone else pick it up.”
Read more »
Critical Role Teases a Spooky New Game—and a New System, TooCandela Obscura is a new supernatural horror TTRPG actual play from the creators of The Legend of Vox Machina.
Read more »
New York City public schools roll out new reading programNew York City is changing the way it teaches reading, getting children hooked on phonics, after Schools Chancellor David Banks concluded public schools have been teaching reading the wrong way for decades.
Read more »
New Jersey representatives vow fight against New York’s ‘cash-grabbing’ congestion pricing planReps. Rob Menendez and Josh Gottheimer said the plan would harm New Jersey communities.
Read more »