The new FDA policy does away with a three-month waiting period before men who have sex with men can donate blood.
Moving forward, all donors will be screened using the same questionnaire that determines a person’s individual risk for HIV regardless of sexuality or gender identity.
Susan Forbes of OneBlood said they’re currently training workers to roll out the new policy in a couple of months throughout Florida.
“So all donors will now have the same set of questions," said Forbes. "This makes the MSM policy a thing of the past.”
Forbes said it's crucial that everyone who wants to, can donate blood.
“It makes blood donation more inclusive, it ensures all donors are treated equally and fairly and it enables more people the opportunity to donate blood and these are all great things," said Forbes.
The FDA’s MSM policy was first put in place in the 1980’s during the height of the AIDS epidemic.
To find out more about donating blood, click here.
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