From the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC).
For Immediate Release
February 25, 2010
Media Contact: Krishna Stone, (212) 367-1016
Antiquated U.S. Blood Donation Ban Against Gay Men Contributes to Stigma and Blood Shortages;
GMHC Report Explores Alternatives to Lifetime MSM Ban
New York, NY — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently bans any man who had sex with another man (MSM), even once, since 1977 from donating blood. The policy does not consider the potential donor's HIV status, frequency or risk of sexual activity, or if he is in a monogamous relationship. Today, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) released a report detailing the history of the policy, efforts towards revision, and analysis of alternative donation criteria.
Advances in HIV screening of blood supplies since the 1980s make the chance of receiving a unit of HIV infected blood one in 1.5 million. Guidance, for most donors, takes into account the "window period," the short period after HIV infection whereby a HIV screening would not detect infection. Current FDA guidance includes a questionnaire of potential blood donors that asks 48 questions about current health status, medical history, blood donation history, sexual practices, drug use, and other behaviors. But risk factors are not uniformly applied. A heterosexual donor who has had sex with a knowingly HIV-positive partner 366 days ago would be eligible for donation. By contrast, a man who has had sex with another man, regardless of the frequency, safe sex practices involved, or duration since the episode, is denied for life.
"Across the country, we experience critical shortfalls of blood supplies on a consistent basis," said Janet Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer at GMHC. "Yet only five percent (or less) of Americans that are able to donate blood do so. We call on the FDA to re-examine discriminatory policies that categorically exclude potential blood donors, including gay and bisexual men," added Weinberg.
The report analyzes alternative recommendations for blood donation by gay and bisexual men using a comprehensive framework to assess actual risk of HIV transmission and increased availability of blood supplies. The framework, called "DONATE," provides a way to understand how the use of advanced technology and objective screening standards can decrease the risk faced by recipients of blood products, while at the same time reducing the discriminatory impact on MSM, expanding the pool of blood donors (thereby reducing the potential for blood shortages), and raising awareness of HIV/AIDS risk among donors in general, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.
The report also examines how other countries, including Russia, South Africa, and Spain, treat gay and bisexual male blood donors.
GMHC thanks Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Davis Polk) for their immense contribution in researching and writing this report. "We believe it is important to help GMHC highlight the current challenges with FDA blood donation guidelines," said Joseph Wardenski, a former Davis Polk associate and primary author of the report. "We hope the report will encourage the FDA to revise its guidelines both to reflect current technology and to avoid reinforcing inaccurate stereotypes and harmful stigmas against gay and bisexual men," added Wardenski.
INFORMATION ON CONFERENCE CALL
On Friday, February 26, at 12:30 EST, GMHC will host a conference call featuring the report's primary author Joseph Wardenski. The call is primarily for media but is open to the public as well. To join the call, please dial 1-800-920-7487 and press 95266285#.
The press release with a link to the report can be found here.
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GMHC is the world's first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy. Building on decades of dedication and expertise, we understand the reality of HIV/AIDS and empower a healthy life for all.
