Curbs on the donations were previously extended to trials on plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19. Their antibodies could help fight the virus.
In a news conference last month, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the nation’s first openly gay governor, lamented that even he is barred despite being in a “loving relationship for 17 years,” as even gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships are not allowed to donate.
“The middle of a crisis is not the time to deviate from standard operating procedure. This is the time to follow the rules because these situations are when we’re most likely to make a mistake,” said Robertson Davenport, director of the blood bank and transfusion service at the University of Michigan. “I understand that it’s not entirely fair, and we could probably do a lot better, but now is not the time to experiment.
The blood ban was first imposed at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, when the virus was still being studied and understood. Because men who had sex with other men showed the highest incidence of infection from HIV, which could be spread through fluid transfer, they were uniformly barred from donating., MSM and bisexual men still show the highest incidence of HIV diagnoses. However, advances in HIV testing and risk assessment have led other countries to reduce their restrictions; the U.S.
The FDA has also funded a study on using a new questionnaire that would ask more targeted questions to screen out donors at greater behavioral risk without a broader ban, which would likely allow men in monogamous relationships to donate.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FDA changes blood donation guidelines amid urgent need for blood during coronavirus pandemicThe FDA has changed blood donation guidelines as US blood supplies decrease amid the coronavirus pandemic
Read more »
Breaking: FDA Rolls Back Blood Donation Policy for Gay and Bisexual MenThe FDA has announced a landmark change to its blood donation policy for gay, bisexual, and queer men amid the coronavirus pandemic
Read more »
The 'game changer' that wasn't: Company falsely claimed FDA authorization for coronavirus blood testThe company claimed it would distribute the first coronavirus antibody test authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration. It promised to detect current and past infections in as little as two minutes -- with just a tiny amount of blood.
Read more »
FDA loosens restrictions on gay men who donate blood
Read more »