FDA relaxes rules on who can donate as COVID-19 cancels blood drives
With the coronavirus outbreak canceling blood drives, the need for donations is at an all-time high and has led to the rollback of several restrictions in an attempt to boost donors.
Last month, the Red Cross estimated there had been a decrease of 86,000 blood donations because of coronavirus concerns.
One of the changes is the relaxing of restrictions on gay donors. Previously, men who had sexual intercourse with other men would have to wait a full year to donate.
The same restriction extended to women who had intercourse with a man who had been sexually active with a man.
To help ease blood shortages, the restriction has been reduced from a year to three months.
In revised rules released by the FDA, there also has been a relaxation on donors who have had a tattoo or piercing. They now can donate if three months have elapsed.
Tara Crosby, director of Quality Assurance at Cascade Regional Blood Services, said the changes were unexpected, but she made clear Cascade will abide by the new regulations.
In a statement emailed to The News Tribune, Crosby said “risk factors change over time with new research and scientific advances including testing, and we will implement the FDA recommendations.”
Erick Seelbach, executive director at Pierce County AIDS Foundation, expressed concerns that the new restriction still is based in historical stigma.
“The initial policy was created in 1983 at a time when less was known about HIV. Because of the early history of HIV being labeled a ‘gay disease,’ gay men were banned from donating blood,” Seelbach said. “Such bans don’t treat people equally based on their individual behaviors. Two people could engage in the exact same types of behavior, but one could be banned based on group membership while the other one is allowed to donate.”
Seelbach called for time restrictions to be lifted in their entirety.
“Donated blood is put through a rigorous process to test for blood-borne diseases. PCAF believes that categorical bans based on membership in a certain group should be lifted, and that such policies need to be based on science,” Seelbach said. “Anything we can do to decrease stigma related to HIV and to gay men will help us end the HIV epidemic and increase the LGBTQ community’s equality.”
That sentiment was shared by Troy Christensen, executive director of the Rainbow Center, who spoke of what he views as a double standard.
“It is still not acceptable to us,” Christensen said. “I’m married to a man. We’re in a monogamous relationship and always have been. We’re significantly lower risk than a single straight man or straight woman who has sex promiscuously. But those are not categories that are required to be abstinent.”
Christensen encourages people to donate but is unsure whether the three-month period of abstinence will deter donors.
“I think it’s essential that anyone who qualifies should donate. Do I think people will decide to be abstinent for three months so they can donate? That’s much slimmer,” Christensen said. “But if you are abstinent just by circumstance, I think they absolutely should and likely will donate.”
Crosby said it may take time to put the new guidelines in place.
“It will take time to implement as we update our internal processes,” Crosby said.
As of Monday, the written materials at Cascade Regional Blood Center in Tacoma had not been updated. The form donors must fill out and sign before donating had the previous questions where the duration remained a year.
It is unclear whether the shorter duration will remain after the COVID-19 pandemic fades.
“The FDA has been moving very very slowly in rolling back the restrictions. I’m cautiously optimistic that they won’t go back to the 12-month ban after this, but I’ll believe it when I see it,” Seelbach said.
Crosby said COVID-19 precautions are being been taken and encouraged those who could donate to do so.
Measures include staff asking questions potential donors if they have traveled recently, displayed symptoms or had contact with someone who has had COVID-19 in the last 14 days. The blood bank also has worked to implement social and physical distancing as much as possible.
“Our reception areas, donor floor, and canteens are set up to ensure a physical separation of 6 feet,” Crosby said. “There are times when our staff needs to be within 6 feet of a donor and during those times our staff are wearing face shields. Face shields protect against droplets and help keep and staff and donors protected.
”They also have been sanitizing all surfaces that donors come into contact with after they leave. Please come donate if you are healthy and eligible. The need for blood does not decrease, and we will need continued donations through the summer months.”
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 12:26 PM.
