‘Turning point’ announced for blood donation

Rules banning sexually active gay and bisexual men from donating blood and plasma will be loosened, as Lifeblood announces sweeping changes to its eligibility rules.
 
On Wednesday, it revealed that from 14 July, sexual activity wait times for plasma donations will be removed.
 
The announcement comes following 2023 changes which allowed men who have sex with men and those on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV to donate plasma via the ‘plasma pathway’, but with a wait time of three months with no sexual activity.
 
But 14 July update will enable most people, including men who have sex with men, bisexual men, and anyone who takes PrEP to donate plasma without a wait period, providing they meet all other eligibility criteria.

Under the new rules, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 plasma donations will be made each year, with more than 600,000 people covered by the previous wait times.
 
It also confirms there will be ‘no impact’ to the safety of the plasma supply with this change.
 
Lifeblood is also working to progress changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility after the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules.
 
Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about their sexual activity, regardless of their gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood.
 
Lifeblood states this decision was based on data showing a six-month wait period is the safest option but is ‘committed to reviewing this as more evidence becomes available.’
 
Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Sexual Health Medicine Dr Sara Whitburn welcomes the changes.
 
‘It is reassuring people in the LGBTQIA+ community that they can now donate, and that Lifeblood is moving towards a gender-neutral, more inclusive practice to support them when they donate,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘It’s considering what risks might occur in sexual health and how that impacts on blood and plasma, and it’s really responding to the evidence.’
 
Chief Medical Officer for Lifeblood Dr Joanne Pink said the changes represent an important step to welcome more people into donor centres, given plasma is the donation type currently most needed by Australians.
 
‘This is a significant milestone in being able to safely reduce wait times and make it easier for more people in the LGBTQIA+ community to donate,’ she said
 
‘Blood safety is and always will be our top priority, but we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community. While they were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know that they’ve contributed to the stigma faced by the community.
 
‘We hope as we move through the process of seeking to have both these changes introduced, that this will be a turning point for both Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community.’
 
Dr George Forgan-Smith, a Melbourne GP with a special interest in sexual health, gay men’s health, and HIV, also supports the changes.
 
‘It’s great news that many sexually active people will be able to donate plasma,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘Having been a recipient of life-saving blood, I welcome any advances that allow more people to be able to donate.
 
‘I appreciate the new changes for whole blood donations around monogamy are no longer being implemented unjustly towards the LGBTQIA+ community, however … I will closely watch this space.’
 
Dr Whitburn says GP have a role in supporting the move to more inclusive, gender-neutral practices.
 
‘Asking everyone about a sexual health history that is really looking at risks – no matter what your gender or sexuality – is supportive, thinking more about not having to specify gender when they ask questions, but more about screening for risks around types of sex,’ she said.
 
‘[Lifeblood is] also acknowledging that we have more ways of prevention for STIs. They’re thinking about PrEP and supporting that people can make active choices to have safer sex and manage their STI risks.
 
‘So, letting people in the LGBTQIA+ community know these changes are coming so that we can support plasma and blood donation, because we know that we always need donors.’
 
The changes are also a good opportunity to raise discussions around sexual health and history, Dr Whitburn says.
 
‘To see if that person wants to talk about their prevention, [for example] if they’re not on PrEP, and offer STI screening opportunistically,’ she said.
 
‘Doing a sexual health check is a really great way to support people’s sexual health, and it’s part of general practice.’
 
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blood donation inclusive healthcare LGBTQIA+ health Lifeblood plasma donation PrEP sexual activity stigma sexual health