AHA today applauded and urged the Food and Drug Administration to finalize its draft guidance proposing that blood donor eligibility be determined based on individual risk assessment, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. AHA said the changes would increase the blood supply essential to hospital and health system care and bolster the field’s efforts to encourage blood donation.
 
“In addition, we urge the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop public-facing messaging related to this significant policy change, in coordination with health care provider and LGBTQ+ communities, to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation and provide education about the new policy.” 

Related News Articles

Headline
America’s Blood Centers and ADRP, the Association of Blood Donor Professionals, last week released a guide highlighting changes in U.S. blood donation and use…
Headline
The American Red Cross this week announced an emergency blood shortage, urging Americans to donate blood or platelets to alleviate the shortage and ensure…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration May 11 finalized revised recommendations for assessing blood donor eligibility, which use the same risk-based questions for…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration is signaling a major shift in federal policy on who may donate blood, proposing guidelines that would eliminate the…
Headline
The international division of America’s Blood Centers recently launched a website to connect blood donors with donation sites. The site also includes…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday launched Giving = Living, a campaign to encourage Americans to donate blood and plasma regularly. Funded…