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Photo by Marja Helander
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has lifted the lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM).
However, prospective MSM blood donors are still subject to deferral.
Now, MSMs are allowed to donate blood in Ireland if it has been more than 12 months since their last sexual contact with a man and if they meet the other blood donor selection criteria.
The IBTS has also introduced new regulations relating to individuals with a history of specific, notifiable sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
These individuals are now allowed to donate blood 5 years after they have completed treatment for their STIs.
“In June of last year, I accepted the recommendations of the IBTS to change their blood donation deferral policies for men who have sex with men, as well as for donors who have had a sexually transmitted infection,” said Ireland’s Health Minister, Simon Harris.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the IBTS for their work over the past 6 months, which, today, sees these recommendations brought to fruition within the timescale agreed. [T]he IBTS will continue to keep all deferral policies under active review in the light of scientific evidence, emerging infections, and international experience.”
MSM deferral
The change in deferral policy relating to MSMs follows a 2-year review of the issues by the IBTS.
The agency hosted an international symposium on the topic in April 2016. Experts from 7 countries who had either lifted, or were in the process of lifting, their lifetime ban on MSM blood donors presented their respective stances, research, and the rationale behind their decisions.
The IBTS said its change to a 1-year deferral period for MSMs is supported by the most current scientific evidence available and brings Ireland into line with similar policies in the UK, Canada, and the US.
STI-related deferral
The IBTS said the 1-year deferral policy for MSMs will protect against the risk of HIV transmission. However, there is concern that it may not be sufficient to deal with an emerging infection.
Therefore, the board of the IBTS decided that individuals who have had a notifiable STI, such as chlamydia or genital herpes, should be deferred from donating blood for 5 years after completing treatment for that STI.
Individuals who have had syphilis, gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum, or granuloma inguinale are (and have been) permanently banned from donating blood.
Individuals who have taken medication to prevent HIV infection are also deferred from donating blood for 5 years after they take the medication.
Safety of the blood supply
“The IBTS provides a safe, reliable, and robust blood service to the Irish health system and has the necessary program and procedures in place to protect both donors and recipients of blood and blood products,” Harris said.
All prospective blood donors in Ireland undergo nucleic acid testing for a number of diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. This is the most sensitive method of testing available.
The risk of transmitted infection of blood is at its highest when individuals donate blood during the 5- to 15-day period following exposure to a virus.
There is no biological measure to detect infectivity during this period and, as a consequence, the IBTS temporarily or permanently defers, on average, 1 in 10 people from giving blood. 
Photo by Marja Helander
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has lifted the lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM).
However, prospective MSM blood donors are still subject to deferral.
Now, MSMs are allowed to donate blood in Ireland if it has been more than 12 months since their last sexual contact with a man and if they meet the other blood donor selection criteria.
The IBTS has also introduced new regulations relating to individuals with a history of specific, notifiable sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
These individuals are now allowed to donate blood 5 years after they have completed treatment for their STIs.
“In June of last year, I accepted the recommendations of the IBTS to change their blood donation deferral policies for men who have sex with men, as well as for donors who have had a sexually transmitted infection,” said Ireland’s Health Minister, Simon Harris.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the IBTS for their work over the past 6 months, which, today, sees these recommendations brought to fruition within the timescale agreed. [T]he IBTS will continue to keep all deferral policies under active review in the light of scientific evidence, emerging infections, and international experience.”
MSM deferral
The change in deferral policy relating to MSMs follows a 2-year review of the issues by the IBTS.
The agency hosted an international symposium on the topic in April 2016. Experts from 7 countries who had either lifted, or were in the process of lifting, their lifetime ban on MSM blood donors presented their respective stances, research, and the rationale behind their decisions.
The IBTS said its change to a 1-year deferral period for MSMs is supported by the most current scientific evidence available and brings Ireland into line with similar policies in the UK, Canada, and the US.
STI-related deferral
The IBTS said the 1-year deferral policy for MSMs will protect against the risk of HIV transmission. However, there is concern that it may not be sufficient to deal with an emerging infection.
Therefore, the board of the IBTS decided that individuals who have had a notifiable STI, such as chlamydia or genital herpes, should be deferred from donating blood for 5 years after completing treatment for that STI.
Individuals who have had syphilis, gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum, or granuloma inguinale are (and have been) permanently banned from donating blood.
Individuals who have taken medication to prevent HIV infection are also deferred from donating blood for 5 years after they take the medication.
Safety of the blood supply
“The IBTS provides a safe, reliable, and robust blood service to the Irish health system and has the necessary program and procedures in place to protect both donors and recipients of blood and blood products,” Harris said.
All prospective blood donors in Ireland undergo nucleic acid testing for a number of diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. This is the most sensitive method of testing available.
The risk of transmitted infection of blood is at its highest when individuals donate blood during the 5- to 15-day period following exposure to a virus.
There is no biological measure to detect infectivity during this period and, as a consequence, the IBTS temporarily or permanently defers, on average, 1 in 10 people from giving blood.
Photo by Marja Helander
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has lifted the lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM).
However, prospective MSM blood donors are still subject to deferral.
Now, MSMs are allowed to donate blood in Ireland if it has been more than 12 months since their last sexual contact with a man and if they meet the other blood donor selection criteria.
The IBTS has also introduced new regulations relating to individuals with a history of specific, notifiable sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
These individuals are now allowed to donate blood 5 years after they have completed treatment for their STIs.
“In June of last year, I accepted the recommendations of the IBTS to change their blood donation deferral policies for men who have sex with men, as well as for donors who have had a sexually transmitted infection,” said Ireland’s Health Minister, Simon Harris.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the IBTS for their work over the past 6 months, which, today, sees these recommendations brought to fruition within the timescale agreed. [T]he IBTS will continue to keep all deferral policies under active review in the light of scientific evidence, emerging infections, and international experience.”
MSM deferral
The change in deferral policy relating to MSMs follows a 2-year review of the issues by the IBTS.
The agency hosted an international symposium on the topic in April 2016. Experts from 7 countries who had either lifted, or were in the process of lifting, their lifetime ban on MSM blood donors presented their respective stances, research, and the rationale behind their decisions.
The IBTS said its change to a 1-year deferral period for MSMs is supported by the most current scientific evidence available and brings Ireland into line with similar policies in the UK, Canada, and the US.
STI-related deferral
The IBTS said the 1-year deferral policy for MSMs will protect against the risk of HIV transmission. However, there is concern that it may not be sufficient to deal with an emerging infection.
Therefore, the board of the IBTS decided that individuals who have had a notifiable STI, such as chlamydia or genital herpes, should be deferred from donating blood for 5 years after completing treatment for that STI.
Individuals who have had syphilis, gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum, or granuloma inguinale are (and have been) permanently banned from donating blood.
Individuals who have taken medication to prevent HIV infection are also deferred from donating blood for 5 years after they take the medication.
Safety of the blood supply
“The IBTS provides a safe, reliable, and robust blood service to the Irish health system and has the necessary program and procedures in place to protect both donors and recipients of blood and blood products,” Harris said.
All prospective blood donors in Ireland undergo nucleic acid testing for a number of diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. This is the most sensitive method of testing available.
The risk of transmitted infection of blood is at its highest when individuals donate blood during the 5- to 15-day period following exposure to a virus.
There is no biological measure to detect infectivity during this period and, as a consequence, the IBTS temporarily or permanently defers, on average, 1 in 10 people from giving blood.