U.S. government: Gay blood ban stays

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability decided June 11 to retain the policy that bans blood donation by any man who has had sex with a man at any time, even once, since 1977.

In a 9-6 vote, the committee cited a lack of research to support the notion that lifting the ban would not contaminate the blood supply.

Incongruously, current policy allows people who have unsafe heterosexual sex with someone who has AIDS to donate blood after a one-year waiting period.

Current HIV testing technology can identify a new infection with the virus within about 10 days of transmission.

The committee acknowledged that current policy permits “some potentially high-risk donations while preventing some potentially low-risk donations.”

It called this state of affairs “suboptimal” and suggested more research into the matter.

“This decision is outrageous, irresponsible and archaic,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “We expect more out of this advisory committee and this administration than to uphold an unnecessarily discriminatory policy from another era.”

She said all donors should be “screened appropriately and assessed based on actual behavioral risk independent of their sexual orientation.”

The Red Cross agrees.

“The American Red Cross is disappointed with the decision made by the (committee) not to recommend a change to the FDA policy of a lifetime deferral for men who have sex with other men,” the organization said. “While the Red Cross is obligated by law to follow the guidelines set forth by the FDA, we also strongly support the use of rational, scientifically based deferral periods that are applied fairly and consistently among donors who engage in similar risk activities.”

by Rex Wockner