HIV prevention

Sexual health

Blood donations

Canadian researchers are calling for policy changes that would allow some gay men to give blood.

As is the case in the UK, all gay men in Canada are banned for life from giving blood.

The ban was introduced in the early 1980s, But the researchers argue that advances in HIV testing technology means that the lifetime ban is now outdated. All blood donations are tested for HIV and other infections such as hepatitis B and C.

Moreover, they believe that the ban is inconsistent and discriminatory. They note that heterosexuals who have multiple sexual partners only have to defer giving blood for twelve months.

The researchers therefore suggest that HIV-negative gay men who’ve been in a stable, monogamous relationship for at least twelve months should be able to give blood.

Gay men with multiple sexual partners would still be banned from giving blood.

They suggest that this change in policy would not substantially increase the risk of an HIV-infected donation entering the blood supply.

Lifetime bans on gay men giving blood is highly contentious. A number of countries have temporary deferments, lasting between one and ten years.

The UK has a lifetime ban. In 2009, the National Blood Service issued a document explaining that this was not based on homophobia. It pointed out that gay men remain the group most affected by HIV, and that many men have an ongoing risk of HIV. In addition, gay men have high rates of other blood-borne infections such as syphilis and hepatitis B.

But not everybody accepts these arguments.