In the US, it is an Individual Donor Assessment and applies to everyone. Everyone gets the same question tree, regardless of sexual orientation. If you have had a new partner in the last 3 months or have multiple partners that doesn’t defer you, it sends you to the next tier of question: have you engaged in anal sex. Yes to anal with a new partner or multiple partners is the deferral. If you haven’t had a new partner or multiple partners in the last 3 months, you will not be asked about anal sex. Canada went live with their individual donor assessment a year before the US and has noted a slight drop in donations in straight donors because they are now being deferred for high risk activity when they were previously missed.
Prep is listed under a medication deferral. First responders that take prep for protection from workplace exposure are deferred as well.
I see what you’re saying but they are specifically worried about anal sex. You’re welcome to switch up partners as much as you want as long as anal sex isn’t involved, which is much more likely and much easier for the heterosexual community.
Same goes with prep. I’m sure that there are circumstances that would have individuals taking it that are not related to their sexual orientation.
I’m just pointing out that despite the major improvement it still excludes gay men quite thoroughly from donating blood.
In the US, it is an Individual Donor Assessment and applies to everyone. Everyone gets the same question tree, regardless of sexual orientation. If you have had a new partner in the last 3 months or have multiple partners that doesn’t defer you, it sends you to the next tier of question: have you engaged in anal sex. Yes to anal with a new partner or multiple partners is the deferral. If you haven’t had a new partner or multiple partners in the last 3 months, you will not be asked about anal sex. Canada went live with their individual donor assessment a year before the US and has noted a slight drop in donations in straight donors because they are now being deferred for high risk activity when they were previously missed.
Prep is listed under a medication deferral. First responders that take prep for protection from workplace exposure are deferred as well.
(I’m a blood banker)
I see what you’re saying but they are specifically worried about anal sex. You’re welcome to switch up partners as much as you want as long as anal sex isn’t involved, which is much more likely and much easier for the heterosexual community.
Same goes with prep. I’m sure that there are circumstances that would have individuals taking it that are not related to their sexual orientation.
I’m just pointing out that despite the major improvement it still excludes gay men quite thoroughly from donating blood.