"The current criteria are based on a broad statistical picture of risk, but of course not all individuals within a group are the same," Dr. It cites data collected by the Public Health Agency of Canada indicating the incidence of HIV and hepatitis C is higher in Canada among men who have sex with men compared to the rest of the population.
#Can gay men donate blood in canada how to#
Part of introducing the new policy in London and Calgary involved training front-line staff on how to communicate with prospective donors, and "understand the science behind the new policy," Canadian Blood Services says on its website. "We also recognize that the slow pace of changes to donor criteria that still exclude many gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men has been painful and frustrating for many, and we are working to create a more inclusive system." Training staff part of policy changeĬanadian Blood Services says University of Ottawa-led research conducted at arm's length from the agency contributed to the development of the new criteria and donor screening processes for the gbMSM community. "We recognize that eligibility criteria for men who have sex with men is a particularly sensitive issue affecting many who have experienced longstanding marginalization and stigma. "We understand that being turned away from donating can leave any donor with a sense of frustration and disappointment," the agency said. Blood-donation deferral period drops to 3 months for gay, bisexual men.The 60-day return donation and testing is a requirement from our regulator Health Canada." "Plasma protein products are specialized medicines that are made from plasma to treat a variety of rare, life-threatening, chronic and genetic conditions. "Plasma donated by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in London and Calgary will be made into plasma protein products when the donor comes in at least 60 days later with a plasma donation that tests negative for infectious diseases. "Men are able to donate source plasma every week at our London and Calgary donor centres," Canadian Blood Services said in a statement. The agency says it hopes to apply to Health Canada by the end of 2021 to have that criteria removed, moving away from a blanket ban to a screening process instead that asks about sexual behaviour, as it does for other donors. Men who have had sexual contact with another man in the last three months are still not eligible to donate blood. It contains nutrients and immune molecules like antibodies, and donations can be done more frequently than blood donations. Since then, HIV has become treatable and men taking PrEP are at an extremely low risk of catching HIV.By continuing the ban you are depriving recipients of blood.- is the straw-coloured liquid component left when blood cells are removed from whole blood. My blood is a rare type and used to donate regularly before gay men were banned. The new criteria would apply a three-month deferral to all donors who have had anal sex with new or multiple partners in the last three months.Ī statement released by Health Canada called the authorization of the submission “a significant milestone toward a more inclusive blood donation system nationwide.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at a news conference, said that the government welcomes the decision which has been “a long time coming.”ĬBS indicates that it expects to implement the new screening approach nationwide by the end of September.Nowhere near good enough.
Instead of a blanket deferral of donations from gbMSM, the new screening approach would introduce a sexual-behaviour based questionnaire to all donors, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Men who have sex with another man are still not permitted to donate blood in Canada even if. Deferrals for such blood donations have been part of the regulations for many years, though over the last ten years the deferral period has been shortened to the current three months.Ĭanadian Blood Services (CBS) submitted an amendment to Health Canada, the health services department, to change the deferral criteria. such as the risk that has been constructed around gay sex.
Additionally, women who have had sex with a male partner who has had sex with another man in the last twelve months must also defer for three months before donating blood. Under the current blood donation regulations, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) have to wait for a three-month period since their last sexual contact with another man before donating blood. The Canadian government Thursday announced that it is lifting the three-month blood donor deferral period for men who are sexually active with other men.