The executive director of HIV Ireland has said he is “pleased” to see new guidelines on blood donations come into effect.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service announced that eligibility to donate blood would now be determined on a person by person basis. This marks a change from previous policy, which excluded demographics, such as gay and bisexual men, from donating.
Stephen O’Hare spoke on RTE’s Morning Ireland about the changes. He said that an individual approach towards blood donation was first recommended last year by the Social Behaviours Review Group.
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Stephen told RTE: “Assessment will now be provided to every donor giving blood. Donors will be asked a number of questions relating to a person’s sexual history and practises. Based on the answers to those questions, they will be assessed as to whether they are eligible to give blood at that time.”
The new policy, known as Individual Donor Risk Assessment, is set to come into effect on November 28. While men who have sex with men are no longer excluded from giving blood, they are required to abstain from sex for at least four months before donating under current protocols.
Stephen said that restrictions on donations from some groups would remain in place, including a lifetime ban on donations from people diagnosed with gonorrhoea. The partners of people living with HIV are also not allowed to donate, although medical treatment can now fully prevent HIV positive people from passing on the virus.
The new directive mirrors recent changes to the UK’s Blood Service. The system aims to be more inclusive of the wider population and encourage more people across the gender and sexuality spectrum to donate.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service released an urgent appeal for donors in October as supplies fell to concerningly low levels. The limited availability of blood led to fears that surgeries would have to be cancelled nationwide.
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