Updated Eligibility Guidelines Make Way for a More Inclusive Donation Process

When more people can donate blood, more patients can thrive.

Significant updates have been made to blood donation eligibility in recent years toward this goal, and there’s an exciting update to share that will allow even more people to help save lives through blood donation.

On Aug. 7, the American Red Cross implemented the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new blood donation eligibility guidance regarding an individual donor assessment for all donors regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Years of data have demonstrated that these new eligibility screening process updates ensure a safe blood supply.

Here’s what to know about the new FDA guidance:

• All potential donors will see new non-gendered questions when they come to donate.

• All potential donors, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, will be asked the same questions and be assessed for blood donation eligibility based on individual risk factors.

• The FDA’s previous blood donation eligibility criteria based on sexual orientation, which restricted sexually active gay and bisexual men from giving blood, has been eliminated.

The Red Cross celebrates this significant progress that eliminates policies based on sexual orientation and moves to a more inclusive process that treats all potential donors with equality and respect while keeping the blood supply safe.