How will this change impact the safety of our blood supply?

The Community Blood Bank is committed to ensuring the safety of our community's blood supply. Every donated unit undergoes rigorous testing to guarantee safety for transfusions in local hospitals and MedEvacs.

Does the Community Blood Bank support the final guidance of the FDA?

The Community Blood Bank supports the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final guidance establishing changes made to the Donor History Questionnaire based on individual donor assessments. This change prioritizes the safety of the nation’s blood supply while welcoming new potential donors. This change aligns the United States with other countries that have implemented similar changes, including Canada and the United Kingdom.

How does the updated Donor History Questionnaire differ?

All donors will be asked if they’ve had new and/or multiple sexual partners in the past three months. If they answer yes to either, they will then be asked if they’ve had anal sex with any of these partners. If they have, they will be required to wait three months from when they most recently had anal sex to donate. If they have not and meet all other eligibility criteria, they will be able to donate.

How does this change increase inclusivity of donors?

This new policy represents a significant stride in the continuous effort to promote equality and equity within America's blood donation regulations, all while upholding the goal of ensuring the safety of the blood supply. Rather than relying on gender-based criteria, this policy centers on evaluating an individual's eligibility to donate based on their unique donor assessment.

Will new medication additions be added to an automatic deferral list?

Potential donors who are on oral medications, such as PrEP, to mitigate the risk of HIV transmission will face a temporary deferral of three months from their last dose. In addition, individuals utilizing injectable PrEP will experience a deferral extending to two years from their most recent dose.

It's important to clarify that this deferral is a standard procedure applicable to all individuals on the medication, devoid of any personal characteristics. It is part of a broader spectrum of medications that might render an individual temporarily ineligible to donate blood while they are actively using the medication and for a defined period afterward.

How soon will impacted donors be able to give blood?

The Community Blood Bank is actively in the process of implementing this adjustment to expand our pool of eligible donors. An official announcement regarding this exciting development will be forthcoming in the near future.

Should individuals on PrEP and/or PEP stop taking their medications to be able to donate blood under the new guidelines?

No! In collaboration with blood centers nationwide, the FDA strongly advises donors to adhere to their prescribed medication regimens as directed by their healthcare providers. It is imperative not to interrupt or postpone medication schedules solely for the purpose of blood donation eligibility.