Red Cross lifts donation restrictions

In what the American Red Cross referred to as a “historic change,” donors will be given the same eligibility questions regardless of gender or sexual orientation and will be assessed for blood donation based on individual risk factors, not on sexual orientation.

“The Red Cross is committed to achieving an inclusive blood donation process that treats all potential donors with equality and respect, and ensures a safe, sufficient blood supply is readily available for patients in need,” the Red Cross said in a press release. “This historic change in approach to donor eligibility is significant progress, resulting in a blood donation process that is more inclusive than ever before.”

The change comes three months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized a recommendation for the policy of not basing acceptance on sexual orientation.

“The FDA has worked diligently to evaluate our policies and ensure we had the scientific evidence to support individual risk assessment for donor eligibility while maintaining appropriate safeguards to protect recipients of blood products. The implementation of these recommendations will represent a significant milestone for the agency and the LGBTQI+ community,” said Peter Marks, M.D., PhD., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “The FDA is committed to working closely with the blood collection industry to help ensure timely implementation of the new recommendations and we will continue to monitor the safety of the blood supply once this individual risk-based approach is in place.”

Creston is served by both the Red Cross and LifeServe for blood donation opportunities. After the FDA’s update in May, American blood centers were given six to 12 months to implement the changes.

Though at this time, LifeServe has not made the change, the center said they will implement the FDA final guidance before the end of 2023 and will update communications regarding the timeline for implementation as information becomes available.

Study

In 2021, the FDA partnered with Red Cross, Vitalant and OneBlood to launch the pilot program and ADVANCE study that made this change possible. The three centers are responsible for 60% of the nation’s blood supply.

“The ADVANCE study is a first step in providing data that will help the FDA determine if a donor history questionnaire based on individual risk would be as effective as time-based deferral, in reducing the risk of HIV in the blood supply,” said Brian Custer, Ph.D., vice president of Research and Scientific Programs with Vitalant Research Institute.

The results of the Assessing Donor Variability and New Concepts in Eligibility (ADVANCE) study showed that of 1,788 males with male sexual partners (MSM,) 1,593 were eligible to donate.

The study found that among sexually active MSM, there are subgroups who self-report no new sexual partners and only one sexual partner within the past three months. These individuals are likely at lower risk of HIV infection than other MSM and would meet proposed individual risk assessment criteria for blood donation in the U.S.

Andrew Goldstein, a cancer researcher from Los Angeles, was a regular blood donor in his younger years before the FDA’s previous policies made him ineligible to donate as a gay man. His desire to influence change compelled him to register as a participant in the ADVANCE Study. He said he is proud he was able to be part of the study that led to this change and is excited to finally be able to give blood again.

“There’s so much in the world that you can’t help with, and you sometimes have to see people going through difficult times, but something like giving blood feels like something so small that you can do, and it means a lot to me that I’ll be able to do that again,” Goldstein said.

Shortage

There are 19 blood centers serving the Midwest region which accounts for 29% of the nation’s blood supply.

America’s Blood Centers reports as of Aug. 14, only four of the 19 have a supply of three or more days’ worth of blood, the ideal amount for meeting demand.

Seven of the centers have between one and three days and four have less than one day worth of blood.

LifeServe reports More than 3,000 units of blood are needed each week to meet the needs of hospital patients.

“Nine out of 10 people who live to the age of 70 will use blood during their lifetime, yet less than 5% of the eligible population donates blood,” LifeServe’s website states. They are lowest on O negative blood.

In announcing the lifted restrictions, the Red Cross shared the story of Trevor, an employee of six years with the Red Cross. “When I found out about the FDA lifting the ban, I had a moment where I started to cry,” Trevor said. “Today’s donation was monumental, not only for me but also the LGBTQ+ community and others we serve. With my donation today, I know that I was able to save lives. Not only do I help recruit donors to come give blood, but I can now say I am a proud blood donor.”

The next blood drive in Creston is with the Red Cross Monday, Aug. 21 at the Trinity Lutheran Church. There are appointments still available.

“Going forward, the Red Cross remains committed to achieving further progress and will continue to provide data to the FDA to make blood donation even more inclusive,” a Red Cross press release states. “We recognize the hurt the previous FDA policy that restricted gay and bisexual men from blood donation has caused and that these are just the first steps in repairing relationships with the broader LGBTQ+ community. The Red Cross welcomes everyone who wishes to be part of our humanitarian mission.”