The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has announced a significant policy shift that allows sexually active gay and bisexual men, as well as transgender women, to donate plasma without the previous three-month deferral period after sexual activity. This change, effective from 14 July, is expected to increase the pool of eligible plasma donors by over 100,000 people, contributing to vital life-saving resources.
Previously, under the old regulations, these groups faced restrictions that limited their ability to donate based on their sexual health history. Dr Jo Pink, Lifeblood’s chief medical officer, expressed enthusiasm about welcoming more community members to their donor centres. The previous rules affected an estimated 600,000 individuals, but with the new regulations, they anticipate an additional 24,000 donors and around 95,000 extra plasma donations annually.
Additionally, Lifeblood will now accept donations from individuals on PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis), an antiviral medication used by HIV-negative individuals to prevent the virus. The changes represent a broader move towards inclusivity and equality in donation policies, as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has also approved the removal of gender-specific sexual activity rules for blood donation eligibility.
Under the new guidelines, individuals with a single sexual partner for six months or more will be able to donate blood, while those with new or multiple partners can donate, provided they have not engaged in anal sex in the past three months. Instead of assessing donors based on their sexual orientation, the questions will apply uniformly to all potential donors regardless of gender.
Dr Pink highlighted the importance of this landmark change, noting that it aims to ease the barriers faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in donating blood. Although the priority remains blood safety, the outdated rules have contributed to societal stigma. Lifeblood hopes that by implementing these changes, they will create a more supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ individuals and continue to improve blood donation accessibility.
Despite these advancements, individuals on PrEP will still be unable to donate blood, indicating ongoing restrictions in specific areas of blood donation policies. Overall, these changes signify a progressive step in empowering more Australians to contribute to the nation’s blood supply while addressing previous inequalities in the donation process.