Health Canada lowers blood donation abstinence period for men who have sex with men

The blood donation waiting period for men who have sex with men has been lowered to three months instead of a year, Canadian Blood Services says.

According to a release from the blood donation organization, Health Canada approved its request to lower the abstinence period by nine months to bring Canadian requirements in line with other countries.

“This is a significant step towards eliminating the deferral period entirely,” a statement from the health minister reads.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This is a significant step towards eliminating the deferral period entirely," a statement from the health minister reads.

“Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec continue to work towards behavioural-based screening.”

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The changes will take place on June 3, 2019 within Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec.

It’s the third time Health Canada has lowered the deferral period for men who have sex with men. Initially, they had a lifetime ban, but that was lowered to a five-year deferral period in 2013 and a one-year deferral period in 2016.

“These evidence-based reductions to the original lifetime restriction have not resulted in any increase in HIV-positive blood donations, and we know we can continue on this path with the utmost confidence in Canada’s blood system,” the statement reads.

The blood donation organizations said in a statement that they continue to research “various aspects of blood and plasma donors’ eligibility criteria.”