FDA reduces restrictions on gay men donating blood in the US due to COVID-19

17 April 2020. Related: COVID-19: transmission & prevention, COVID-19: other news, COVID-19.

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

On 2 April 2020, an indication of the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis in the US has been new FDA recommendations that reduces earlier restrictions on gay men (or straight partners of gay men) donating blood.

The 12-month period of abstinence has been reduced to not having had sex in the previous three months.

The guidelines notes that the urgent need for the crisis response doesn’t allow time for public consultation, but that the recommendations are only to cover this COVID-19 crisis period.

Reference

FDA. Revised recommendations for reducing the risk of HIV transmission by blood and blood products (2 April 2020).
https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/revised-recommendations-reducing-risk-human-immunodeficiency-virus-transmission-blood-and-blood

https://www.fda.gov/media/92490/download (direct download)