Summary:
- The American Red Cross is now accepting blood donations from men who have sex with men following the FDA's change in policy.
- The FDA's ban on gay men donating blood originated during the AIDS epidemic around 40 years ago due to imperfect blood tests for detecting HIV infections.
- The FDA has shifted its focus from sexual orientation to risk behaviors in its blood donation screening process.
- While the Red Cross has adopted the new policy, individual blood centers may implement it at different times.
Starting today, the American Red Cross is accepting more blood donations after the FDA dropped its ban for men who have sex with men.
During the AIDS epidemic nearly 40 years ago, the FDA banned most gay men from donating blood as blood tests weren't perfect then and didn't always catch HIV infections. In 2015, they eased restrictions and again in 2020. But now the FDA's screening has changed to focus on behaviors of risk instead of sexual orientation. While the Red Cross dropped the ban today, other individual blood centers may adopt the new policy at a different time.