Photo by Marja Helander
Blood donor
England and Scotland are changing some of their policies regarding blood donation, shortening the deferral periods for donors who engage in “high-risk” sexual behavior.
Wales is considering making the same changes to its blood donation policies but has not yet made a commitment to do so.
The policy changes will mean that men who have sex with men (MSM), commercial sex workers, and people with sexual partners who have a high risk of sexually transmitted infections (including those who have been sexually active in areas where HIV is common) will be able to donate blood after 3 months have passed since their last sexual activity.
At present, MSMs and individuals with high-risk sexual partners can only donate blood after 12 months have passed since their last sexual activity, and commercial sex workers are permanently banned from giving blood.
The change in deferral periods will begin to take effect in England in early 2018 and in Scotland in November 2017. Until then, the existing rules still apply.
The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO), which advises UK ministers and health departments, recommended the aforementioned policy changes following a review of blood donor criteria and risk assessment of certain behaviors.
SaBTO also recommended shortening the deferral period for potential donors who have undergone acupuncture, piercing, tattooing, and endoscopy, as well as those with a history of non-prescribed injectable drug use.
However, this change requires changing UK legislation, in addition to a derogation from or amendments to current European Union legislation.
“We welcome the review by SaBTO and the recommendations,” said Moira Carter, Associate Director of Donor Services and Transport for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.
“The updates for donor eligibility will allow more people the opportunity to give blood. The changes take into account the latest available medical and scientific evidence about the risk of acquiring infections that can be passed on in blood, along with evidence supporting the reliability of the blood screening tests we use.”
“We’re pleased that the lifetime ban on former and current sex workers has been lifted, and the deferral period is now in line with other deferrals based on sexual behavior,” said Alex Phillips, Blood Donations Policy Lead at Terrence Higgins Trust in London.
“We know from our research that the majority of sex workers take great care of their sexual health, with 98% of sex workers we asked rating their sexual health as very important, 76% having a sexual health check up every 3 months, and 98% knowing their HIV status.”
“Medical evidence is, of course, constantly and quickly being updated, so it’s important that the deferral periods are regularly reviewed in line with the latest evidence. We therefore hope that today’s changes will pave the way for more progress as further evidence becomes available.”
