Blood Assurance to Host Blood Drive in Celebration of FDA Changes

By Blood Assurance of Tennessee

In light of recent changes pertaining to gay and bisexual men donating blood, Middle Tennessee’s local blood supplier, Blood Assurance, is hosting a celebratory blood drive to commemorate the reform.

The LGBTQ-friendly event will take place Friday, January 19, from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Blood Assurance’s cellular therapy office, OurCel Solutions, located at 2817 West End. Ave., Suite 200 in Nashville.

The updated guidance was first announced last January. It established blood donor screening criteria based on individual risk behaviors, not sexual or gender identity. All potential donors are now asked if they’ve had new or multiple sexual partners over the last three months. If they respond affirmatively, they are asked if they’ve engaged in anal intercourse with any of their partners. If the answer is yes, they will be deferred for three months. Individuals in long-term relationships (more than three months) with one partner are no longer deferred.

“The blood supply has never been safer,” said Dr. Liz Culler, chief medical officer for Blood Assurance. “Blood Assurance strongly supports the use of rational, science-based deferral periods that are applied fairly and consistently among blood donors who engage in behaviors that pose similar risks.”

In 1983, the FDA instituted a lifetime deferral on blood donations for gay and bisexual men in order to reduce the risk of HIV in the blood supply. In 2015, the FDA revised the policy to a one-year deferral since last sex between men. In 2020, the deferral was revised again to the current three-month deferral since last sex between men.

“Only 3% of Americans donate blood each year. We are hopeful that this change will dramatically increase the donor base and ensure we have enough blood on the shelf to meet demand,” explained Culler.

It’s important to note that potential donors who take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), regardless of gender or sexual orientation, will still be deferred due to the medication’s interference with routine donation tests that ensure the safety of the blood supply.

January’s event is being sponsored by several LGBTQ organizations around the region.

For more information on Blood Assurance, visit www.bloodassurance.org.