The FDA permanently bans male blood donors who have had sexual contact with another male since 1977, a policy which is intended to identify risky behavior. This policy is discriminatory and inadequate. This proposal aims to include safe donor populations while concurrently reinforcing the safety of the blood supply by changing the question to, “Have you had unprotected sexual contact with a new partner in the past 12 weeks?” An affirmative answer results in a deferral length based on the window period of HIV. This change avoids discrimination and addresses risky behaviors that presently go overlooked. All individuals should be eligible to donate if they otherwise pass all of the FDA’s requirements, including a disease-free status.
Full petition: http://www.umich.edu/~bloodbat/msm.html