Rule change means gay and bisexual men can donate plasma without wait times
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here LIVE Rockets activate third country's air defences Sexually active gay and bisexual men will be able to donate plasma under a change in rules by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Under the previous rules, any gay or bisexual men and transgender women who have sex with men cannot donate blood or plasma if they have had sex in the last three months. But from July 14, Lifeblood will remove most sexual activity with times for plasma donations for gay and bisexual men and transgender women, meaning they can donate plasma at any time. Sexually active gay and bisexual men will be able to donate plasma in a change of rules. (Lifeblood) It means over 100,000 additional people can donate much-needed life-saving plasma, Lifeblood said. "We're excited to be able to welcome more people from across the community into our donor centres from next month," Lifeblood's chief medical officer Dr Jo Pink said. "With more than 600,0000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year." They will also accept plasma donations from people taking PrEP, an antiviral taken by people who are HIV-negative that protects them from contracting the illness. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has also approved a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules from blood and platelet donation eligibility. The change means all people with a single sexual partner for six months or more will be eligible to donate blood. It means over 100,000 additional people can donate much-needed life-saving plasma, Lifeblood said. (9NEWS) Most people with new or multiple partners will also be able to dontate blood under the new laws, as long as they haven't had anal sex in the past three months. The rule change means men will not be asked if they have had sex with another man but rather everyone will be asked the same questions regardless of their gender or sex. "This is a significant milestone in being able to safely reduce wait times and make it easier for more people in the LGBTQIA+ community to donate," Pink said. "Blood safety is and always will be our top priority, but we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community. "While they were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know that they've contributed to the stigma faced by the community. "We hope as we move through the process of seeking to have both these changes introduced, that this will be a turning point for both Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community." People taking PrEP still won't be able to donate blood despite the changes. CONTACT US
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Rule change means gay and bisexual men can donate plasma without wait times
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here LIVE Rockets activate third country's air defences Sexually active gay and bisexual men will be able to donate plasma under a change in rules by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Under the previous rules, any gay or bisexual men and transgender women who have sex with men cannot donate blood or plasma if they have had sex in the last three months. But from July 14, Lifeblood will remove most sexual activity with times for plasma donations for gay and bisexual men and transgender women, meaning they can donate plasma at any time. Sexually active gay and bisexual men will be able to donate plasma in a change of rules. (Lifeblood) It means over 100,000 additional people can donate much-needed life-saving plasma, Lifeblood said. "We're excited to be able to welcome more people from across the community into our donor centres from next month," Lifeblood's chief medical officer Dr Jo Pink said. "With more than 600,0000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year." They will also accept plasma donations from people taking PrEP, an antiviral taken by people who are HIV-negative that protects them from contracting the illness. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has also approved a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules from blood and platelet donation eligibility. The change means all people with a single sexual partner for six months or more will be eligible to donate blood. It means over 100,000 additional people can donate much-needed life-saving plasma, Lifeblood said. (9NEWS) Most people with new or multiple partners will also be able to dontate blood under the new laws, as long as they haven't had anal sex in the past three months. The rule change means men will not be asked if they have had sex with another man but rather everyone will be asked the same questions regardless of their gender or sex. "This is a significant milestone in being able to safely reduce wait times and make it easier for more people in the LGBTQIA+ community to donate," Pink said. "Blood safety is and always will be our top priority, but we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community. "While they were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know that they've contributed to the stigma faced by the community. "We hope as we move through the process of seeking to have both these changes introduced, that this will be a turning point for both Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community." People taking PrEP still won't be able to donate blood despite the changes. CONTACT US
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Sexually active gay and bisexual men and transgender women will be able to donate blood from July 14 after a landmark change in eligibility rules. Current Red Cross donor rules prevent gay and bisexual men from giving blood or plasma if they have had sex in the past three months. The rule was designed to prohibit people at higher risk of exposure to HIV from donating. READ MORE: 'Watch your kids': death cap mushrooms sprouting across regional areas But the Red Cross said on June 18 that extensive research and modelling show that there will be no impact on the safety of the plasma supply with this change. Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Dr Jo Pink, said they were "excited to welcome more people from across the community" into donor centres. "With more than 600,0000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year," she said. Dr Pink said the safety and well-being of patients who receive blood and plasma would always be foremost in decision-making. "Our submission to change rules for blood donation included data that shows, for now, a six-month wait is the safest option for Australian patients, but we are committed to reviewing this as more evidence becomes available," she said. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire. Dr Pink said they hoped to implement changes to gender-neutral assessments next active gay and bisexual men and transgender women will be able to donate blood from July 14 after a landmark change in eligibility rules. Current Red Cross donor rules prevent gay and bisexual men from giving blood or plasma if they have had sex in the past three months. The rule was designed to prohibit people at higher risk of exposure to HIV from donating. READ MORE: 'Watch your kids': death cap mushrooms sprouting across regional areas But the Red Cross said on June 18 that extensive research and modelling show that there will be no impact on the safety of the plasma supply with this change. Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Dr Jo Pink, said they were "excited to welcome more people from across the community" into donor centres. "With more than 600,0000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year," she said. Dr Pink said the safety and well-being of patients who receive blood and plasma would always be foremost in decision-making. "Our submission to change rules for blood donation included data that shows, for now, a six-month wait is the safest option for Australian patients, but we are committed to reviewing this as more evidence becomes available," she said. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire. Dr Pink said they hoped to implement changes to gender-neutral assessments next active gay and bisexual men and transgender women will be able to donate blood from July 14 after a landmark change in eligibility rules. Current Red Cross donor rules prevent gay and bisexual men from giving blood or plasma if they have had sex in the past three months. The rule was designed to prohibit people at higher risk of exposure to HIV from donating. READ MORE: 'Watch your kids': death cap mushrooms sprouting across regional areas But the Red Cross said on June 18 that extensive research and modelling show that there will be no impact on the safety of the plasma supply with this change. Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Dr Jo Pink, said they were "excited to welcome more people from across the community" into donor centres. "With more than 600,0000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year," she said. Dr Pink said the safety and well-being of patients who receive blood and plasma would always be foremost in decision-making. "Our submission to change rules for blood donation included data that shows, for now, a six-month wait is the safest option for Australian patients, but we are committed to reviewing this as more evidence becomes available," she said. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire. Dr Pink said they hoped to implement changes to gender-neutral assessments next active gay and bisexual men and transgender women will be able to donate blood from July 14 after a landmark change in eligibility rules. Current Red Cross donor rules prevent gay and bisexual men from giving blood or plasma if they have had sex in the past three months. The rule was designed to prohibit people at higher risk of exposure to HIV from donating. READ MORE: 'Watch your kids': death cap mushrooms sprouting across regional areas But the Red Cross said on June 18 that extensive research and modelling show that there will be no impact on the safety of the plasma supply with this change. Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Dr Jo Pink, said they were "excited to welcome more people from across the community" into donor centres. "With more than 600,0000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year," she said. Dr Pink said the safety and well-being of patients who receive blood and plasma would always be foremost in decision-making. "Our submission to change rules for blood donation included data that shows, for now, a six-month wait is the safest option for Australian patients, but we are committed to reviewing this as more evidence becomes available," she said. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire. Dr Pink said they hoped to implement changes to gender-neutral assessments next year.
