FDA seeking comment on blood donation restrictions for gay men

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is formally asking for comments on whether it should change its policy of only allowing gay men to donate blood after they’ve been abstinent for one year.

That standard went into place in December 2015 after years of an outright lifetime ban on blood donation by gay men over concerns about spreading HIV. The change didn’t satisfy opponents of the ban, especially after the deadly shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando brought more attention to the issue with men with personal connections to the victims unable to give blood.

The FDA’s request for comments suggests HIV transmission through blood donation remains a concern.

“Interested persons are invited to submit comments, supported by scientific evidence such as data from research, regarding potential blood donor deferral policy options to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, including the feasibility of moving from the existing time-based deferrals related to risk behaviors to alternate deferral options, such as the use of individual risk assessments. Additionally, comments invited regarding the design of potential studies to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of such alternative deferral options,” the FDA’s notice in the Federal Register said.

Led U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, 142 members of Congress wrote a letter to the FDA after the Orlando shooting, which left 49 dead and 53 wounded, asking for the policy to be changed. She supports the agency’s move to collect comments on potential new options.

“It is encouraging that the FDA is taking another step forward to develop better blood donor policies that are grounded in science, don’t unfairly single out one group of individuals, and allow all healthy Americans to donate,” Baldwin said in a statement.

Comments will be collected until November 25.