Can you give blood if you are gay in australia

By Lewis Wiseman. Topic: Health. The first set of rule changes will take hold from July From July 14, in the first set of rule changes, Lifeblood will remove most restrictions on donating plasma related to sexual activity. The change will mean more gay and bisexual men, and transgender women who have sex with men will be able to donate plasma.

Lifeblood has also revealed changes to blood donation rules that are likely to come into effect early next year. Restrictions around sexually active gay and bisexual men donating blood and plasma are being loosened in a new world-leading move by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.

Under current rules, gay and bisexual men, and transgender women who have sex with men, cannot donate blood or plasma if they have had sex in the past three months. But from July 14, in the first set of rule changes, Lifeblood will remove most restrictions on donating plasma related to sexual activity.

It has called this world-first the "plasma pathway", and says it will mean "most people, including gay and bisexual men, and anyone who takes PrEP, will be able to donate plasma without a wait period, providing they meet all other eligibility criteria". PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis and involves HIV-negative people taking antiretroviral medication to protect them and prevent infection.

Lifeblood chief medical officer Jo Pink said plasma was now the donation Australians needed the most, and the change would allow more thanextra people to give blood. Plasma is now the donation that is most needed by Australians. Supplied: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Alongside the changes to plasma donation rules, Lifeblood is working towards making changes to blood and platelet donation eligibility.

Lifeblood said the Therapeutic Goods Administration TGA had approved a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules. It will mean that all donors will be given the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, once the changes come into effect.

Men will no longer be asked if they have had sex with another man before they donate blood. Changes to blood donation rules could come into effect next year. AAP: Angela Brkic, file photo. On top of that, people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be able to donate blood and most people with new or multiple partners will also be able to donate if they have not had anal sex in the past three months.

Lifeblood has not given a date for when the changes will come into effect, but Dr Pink is hopeful of it being from early next year. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

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In short: From July 14, in the first set of rule changes, Lifeblood will remove most restrictions on donating plasma related to sexual activity. What's next? Footer ABC News homepage.