Banned for life: Gay men still can't donate blood

[enhanced_deficit]

Is team Obama's next project to end civil rights violation/discrimination in blood donation bans? Or this may be harder to do with Obama's Love is Love campaign due to HIV/AIDS stigma?


Banned for life: Why gay men still can't donate blood

1 hour ago

Like millions of other gay men, Dassey used to give blood a few times a year without a second thought. And he still remembers the day nearly three decades ago when he saw the survey question first appear, the one all potential donors still answer every time they give blood. "From 1977 to the present," it reads, "have you had sexual contact with another male, even once?"

If you are a gay man, and you answer that question truthfully, the result is a lifetime ban.

The FDA classifies all gay men in the highest-risk blood-donor category -- the same category as IV drug users and people who've spent more than five years since 1980 in a country that has mad cow disease.

Get the facts you need to Lower Your STD Odds (http://www.menshealth.com/sex-md/std-diagnostic-guide?cm_mmc=MSNBC-_-Banned%20for%20Life-_-Article-_-How%20To%20Lower%20Your%20STD%20Odds).)

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/banned-life-why-gay-men-still-cant-donate-blood-6C10622947

[enhanced_deficit]

Banned for life: Why gay men still can't donate blood

On related note, a question of medical science in case any one knows with a factual basis. Does "gay marriage" between homosexual men carry higher risk of HIV/AIDS infection than "traditional marriage" or polygamy between/among hetrosexual people?

[better-dead-than-fed]

This will create a black market for gay blood.

[oyarde]

I cannot give blood any more . I lived in Europe more than six months from 1980-1996. I never ate beef , mostly a diet of beer and pork.

[enhanced_deficit]

This will create a black market for gay blood.

It hasn't in past 25 years?


I cannot give blood any more . I lived in Europe more than six months from 1980-1996. I never ate beef , mostly a diet of beer and pork.

Note to self, keep any Europe trips shorter than 6 months.

[oyarde]

It hasn't in past 25 years?



Note to self, keep any Europe trips shorter than 6 months.

I do not think it is currently in effect , it was the human form of mad cow . I have not read anything about it in years , but it was difficult to to detect and nobody knew the incubation period.

[Philhelm]

I cannot give blood any more . I lived in Europe more than six months from 1980-1996. I never ate beef , mostly a diet of beer and pork.

I can't donate blood either, since I was born in England in 1980, and they are concerned about Mad Cow.

[fisharmor]

The FDA classifies all gay men in the highest-risk blood-donor category -- the same category as IV drug users and people who've spent more than five years since 1980 in a country that has mad cow disease.

Now, if I were to hazard a guess as to why.... I imagine it probably has something to do with objectively being in the highest risk category.

Everyone's been trying like hell to get AIDS to be a straight disease for 30 years now, and guess what? It's still not.
The FDA is just playing the numbers, and as much bile-choking as it causes for me to type this, they're right in this instance. Anyone with an ounce of objective sense in his head would do likewise.

[better-dead-than-fed]

Now, if I were to hazard a guess as to why.... I imagine it probably has something to do with objectively being in the highest risk category.

Everyone's been trying like hell to get AIDS to be a straight disease for 30 years now, and guess what? It's still not.
The FDA is just playing the numbers, and as much bile-choking as it causes for me to type this, they're right in this instance. Anyone with an ounce of objective sense in his head would do likewise.

But the categorization-scheme itself is merely a social-legal construct, with no scientific basis. The FDA might as well ask a different question: do you live on the west or east half of the country. Then they run a study and find that either the west or east half has relatively worse blood; then they ban. Their choice to ban one half or another is objectively sensible, under your analysis.

ETA: The issue I am trying to address is an analytic flaw common throughout the various sciences. I am not meaning to single you out.

[Anti Federalist]

The FDA is just playing the numbers, and as much bile-choking as it causes for me to type this, they're right in this instance.

Which means, of course, that once the PC Warriors bring the full weight of their disapproval of this rule, they will capitulate, rapidly.

[oyarde]

I can't donate blood either, since I was born in England in 1980, and they are concerned about Mad Cow.

I think in England , there were three deaths from it being given in blood transfusions. I pretty much lived in Germany , Italy , Korea , Middle East and Central America from 1984 - almost 1988, I think, getting hard to remember.

[eduardo89]

I cannot give blood any more . I lived in Europe more than six months from 1980-1996. I never ate beef , mostly a diet of beer and pork.

I tried donating blood once in Spain and the threw my blood out after they realized I was born in Mexico. I did get a letter a couple weeks later in the mail telling me they had tested my blood and that I could now donate.

[Anti Federalist]

But the categorization-scheme itself is merely a social-legal construct, with no scientific basis. The FDA might as well ask a different question: do you live on the west or east half of the country. Then they run a study and find that either the west or east half has relatively worse blood; then they ban. Their choice to ban one half or another is objectively sensible, under your analysis.

The medical/industrial establishment kills over 90,000 people every year (That's the lowest number. The highest number I've seen is 210,000.)

Maybe tomfucking around with the blood supply is not such a good idea, given those already ridiculously high numbers.

Better yet, a free market solution.

Let the customer decide: blood from non discriminatory, free range human sources would be a money maker, amirite?

[Anti Federalist]

I tried donating blood once in Spain and the threw my blood out after they realized I was born in Mexico. I did get a letter a couple weeks later in the mail telling me they had tested my blood and that I could now donate.

God that made me laugh.

Is Danke going to make a return as well, or is he still pouting?

[oyarde]

I tried donating blood once in Spain and the threw my blood out after they realized I was born in Mexico. I did get a letter a couple weeks later in the mail telling me they had tested my blood and that I could now donate.

Well , maybe they should have tested it before they discarded it . I know mine is good too and it is a desireable type.

[Origanalist]

I tried donating blood once in Spain and the threw my blood out after they realized I was born in Mexico. I did get a letter a couple weeks later in the mail telling me they had tested my blood and that I could now donate.

They might have at least made blood pudding out of it.

[eduardo89]

God that made me laugh.

Is Danke going to make a return as well, or is he still pouting?

Last I heard of him he was being probed by aliens and enjoying it.

[eduardo89]

They might have at least made blood pudding out of it.

That doesn't sound kosher.

[oyarde]

Last I heard of him he was being probed by aliens and enjoying it.

True , but I am trying to reform him, where he could at least say it was not pleasureable.I wish he would come back too .

[juleswin]

I also cannot give blood since I lived in Nigeria after 1978 (I think). I remember going to give plasma once and you only need to see the people they took over me. Some of those people are homeless people, alcoholics (you could smell the stench of alcohol in the room), low quality street walkers etc. I have never felt so embarrassed in my life.

And after the battery of blood tests and vaccination we had to go through to get our VISA, I was surprised to learn that my blood sample is still suspect.

[oyarde]

That doesn't sound kosher.

I suppose if it was blessed and cooked it may be alright , not an expert , but you are not a crustacean and have no cloved feet.

[Origanalist]

I suppose if it was blessed and cooked it may be alright , not an expert , but you are not a crustacean and have no cloved feet.

lol

[pcosmar]

I couldn't donate Plasma (for $$$) because of my Tattoos.

(was a good source of income for inmates)

[oyarde]

They might have at least made blood pudding out of it.

That conjures up memories of Mom frying that up for Dad for breakfast in fall butchering time.I tried it. Not that great , but probably nutritious .

[I<3Liberty]

I volunteer for the American Red Cross and we'll often have LGBTA protesters show up and protest against this.

What I find annoying is the fact that 1) They test the blood no matter what the donor's sex and sexual orientation may be. 2) Not every man that has had homosexual intercourse has HIV or AIDS and not every straight man or woman is HIV or AIDS free. The stereotype that gay men are HIV positive has only lessened our pool of applicable donors.

[presence]

My son has received blood product donations from 100,000's of distinct donors.
I'm quite thankful the medical community screens for high disease risk groups.

I encourage high risk groups to donate blood to science,
but I find it unethical and self-serving for these individuals to seek to donate to medicine.



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Blutspende_Piktogramm.GIF/220px-Blutspende_Piktogramm.GIF





I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it,
nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.
In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.
- Hippocrates



As the world’s leading AIDS researchers gather for the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C.,
scientists report that despite gains in controlling the spread of HIV,
the disease has continued to spread at an alarming rate
in the very population in which it first appeared —
gay men.


Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/20/hiv-continues-to-spread-among-gay-men-studies-show/#ixzz2Z46VbcmL

(http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/20/hiv-continues-to-spread-among-gay-men-studies-show/#ixzz2Z46VbcmL)http://www.vishalgadkari.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/blood-donation.jpg


Not for gay rights.

[Pericles]

Same here - foreign military service that disqualifies me from donating in the US. No problem in Europe.

If US entities don't want my blood, I con only hope the same can be said for the US Govt.

[amy31416]

I volunteer for the American Red Cross and we'll often have LGBTA protesters show up and protest against this.

What I find annoying is the fact that 1) They test the blood no matter what the donor's sex and sexual orientation may be. 2) Not every man that has had homosexual intercourse has HIV or AIDS and not every straight man or woman is HIV or AIDS free. The stereotype that gay men are HIV positive has only lessened our pool of applicable donors.

Maybe I'm wrong, but (at least back in the day), I thought that the test wasn't sensitive enough to pick up someone who was newly infected or those who have some form of remission. Perhaps the test is better now, but I wouldn't allow gay donors unless it was 100%.

[eduardo89]

I volunteer for the American Red Cross and we'll often have LGBTA protesters show up and protest against this.

What the hell does the A stand for? Asshole-fuckers?

[MelissaWV]

Maybe I'm wrong, but (at least back in the day), I thought that the test wasn't sensitive enough to pick up someone who was newly infected or those who have some form of remission. Perhaps the test is better now, but I wouldn't allow gay donors unless it was 100%.

But I guess the strange part about this is that the test should really be asking about specific high-risk sex acts, rather than just sexual orientation. Hetero couples engaging in anal sex are riskier than a **** couple engaging only in oral sex (and yeah they exist).

[juleswin]

[CENTER]My son has received blood product donations from 100,000's of distinct donors.
I'm quite thankful the medical community screens for high disease risk groups.

I encourage high risk groups to donate blood to science,
but I find it unethical and self[SIZE=3]-serving for these individuals to seek to donate to medicine.


I also want the blood supply to be safe from pathogen but I asked and the main reason to disqualify me was the potential that I have the HIV and then they tell me that even if I can prove that I do not have the virus, I still cannot donate blood. There is something rotten about it, and if they believe I am such a danger to the system, then why let me in the country? why did I have to go through all the tests and vaccines before entering the country?

Another problem I have is that the law hamstringing these facilities are federal laws which explains why it makes no sense. The blood is tested anyway for HIV and other blood transmitted virus and they still refuse to take your blood. Also to be consistent, they should also refuse the blood from anyone who has had intimate contact with anyone on the no-list.

[kcchiefs6465]

Maybe I'm wrong, but (at least back in the day), I thought that the test wasn't sensitive enough to pick up someone who was newly infected or those who have some form of remission. Perhaps the test is better now, but I wouldn't allow gay donors unless it was 100%.
Well I know even with their tests it is sometimes transmitted through blood transfusions. Someone more familiar with blood transfusions probably knows how this might have happened but it is definitely concerning.

They also ask about if you've been with any prostitutes. It isn't simply homosexuals. If the behavior shows an increase for a certain disease, especially one as grave as HIV, they should ask about it. If admitted to you should be denied. (same as when they ask if you've traveled to Africa in the last year)

I don't believe HIV is detectable until what, six months or so. That's what I was always taught, anyways. It's been a few years and maybe the tests now are quick, conclusive, and accurate no matter the time frame. I know they now have a test you can buy at the store that uses your saliva. There was a bunch of talk about that a year or so ago because of possible repercussions. As far as I'm aware it is very accurate and I don't believe you have to wait as long to tell. Could be wrong though.

[tangent4ronpaul]

Blood Drive Protests FDA Ban on Gay Donors
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/blood-drive-protests-fda-ban-gay-donors/story?id=19648322

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Health/ABC_gay_blood_donation_tk_130712_16x9_992.jpg

After Marshall Duer-Balkind, 30, exited a blood donation center on Friday morning, he held up a long green form as evidence that he had been rejected as a blood donor.

On the form Duer-Balkind pointed out that section that disqualified him from being a blood donor because of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy that bans men who have sex with men from giving blood.

After Duer-Balkind showed the form to two volunteers from the National Gay Blood Drive demonstration, the volunteers pulled out a red ink pad and stamped "Rejected" on his forearm.

The stamp was proof that Duer-Balkind had taken part in a nationwide demonstration to protest the FDA policy, which bans men who have sex with men from donating blood, since they are considered at a higher risk for having HIV.

"I think it's an absolutely ridiculous and antiquated policy," said Duer-Balkind, who had come to participate in the demonstration during a vacation in New York.

There were more than 50 demonstrations planned as part of the National Gay Blood Drive in various U.S. cities on Friday. The drive was planned to help draw attention to the number of potential blood donors who are automatically disqualified due to their sexual orientation. In addition to men who have sex with men, women are disqualified from giving blood if within the last 12 months they have had sex with a man who at any point since 1977 has sex with another man.
Blood Loss and Donation Watch Video
Swapping Blood for Career Advice Watch Video
Blood Bank Shows Porn to Students Watch Video

Rejected Blood Donor Wants to Sue For Discrimination

At designated blood donation centers across the country, participants in the National Gay Blood Drive were tested for HIV and if they tested negative, attempted to donate blood at a blood donation center. When they were rejected due to FDA regulations, they received a stamp and turned in their HIV testing results to be sent to the FDA.

The FDA's decades-long ban stared during the AIDS crisis and restricts any man, who has had sex with another man since 1977, from donating blood.

In recent years as HIV testing has improved the policy has come under fire for being discriminatory and outdated. In June the American Medical Association voted to oppose the ban.

The National Gay Blood Drive was organized by independent filmmaker Ryan James Yezak, 26, who was inspired to act after he was forced to explain to co-workers he could not donate blood because he was gay.

"There's a really alienating feeling," said Yezak, who is working on a documentary about discrimination based on sexual orientation. "That's the first time I felt direct anti-gay discrimination and once you feel that you can't ignore it."

Yezak said that 1,400 people have said they would attend different demonstrations. At one New York City location, there had been over 20 participants by noon.

The demonstration comes just days after the American Red Cross issued an emergency request for blood and platelet donations since June donations were down 10 percent.

Heat Deters Blood Donations

Yezak said the he hopes the FDA will craft a new blood donor policy that is based on behavior associated with high HIV risk rather than just sexual orientation. He also said one step could be adopting a policy similar to other countries, such as Canada or the United Kingdom, where men who have sex with men can donate blood if they abstain from sex for a certain period of time.

In 2010 an FDA Advisory Committee on Blood Safety found that the current ban on gay men as blood donors was "suboptimal" but voted to keep the policy pending further research. The U.S. Health and Human Services is performing additional studies to see what policy revisions should be undertaken.
Blood Loss and Donation Watch Video
Swapping Blood for Career Advice Watch Video
Blood Bank Shows Porn to Students Watch Video

According to the FDA, men who have sex with men made up 61 percent of all new HIV infections in the U.S. in 2010. Although HIV testing is performed on all donated blood, there are rare cases where HIV is not detected because the infection too new. According to the FDA there is an HIV risk in 1 out of every 2 million units of donated blood.

After requesting a comment from the FDA regarding on the National Gay Blood Drive, an FDA spokesperson wrote that the "FDA's primary responsibility with regard to blood and blood products is to assure the safety of patients who receive these life-saving products… We applaud the critical contributions made by blood donors and we are sensitive to the concerns of potential donors and other individuals affected by current blood safety policies."

-t

[oyarde]

Blood Drive Protests FDA Ban on Gay Donors
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/blood-drive-protests-fda-ban-gay-donors/story?id=19648322

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Health/ABC_gay_blood_donation_tk_130712_16x9_992.jpg

After Marshall Duer-Balkind, 30, exited a blood donation center on Friday morning, he held up a long green form as evidence that he had been rejected as a blood donor.

On the form Duer-Balkind pointed out that section that disqualified him from being a blood donor because of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy that bans men who have sex with men from giving blood.

After Duer-Balkind showed the form to two volunteers from the National Gay Blood Drive demonstration, the volunteers pulled out a red ink pad and stamped "Rejected" on his forearm.

The stamp was proof that Duer-Balkind had taken part in a nationwide demonstration to protest the FDA policy, which bans men who have sex with men from donating blood, since they are considered at a higher risk for having HIV.

"I think it's an absolutely ridiculous and antiquated policy," said Duer-Balkind, who had come to participate in the demonstration during a vacation in New York.

There were more than 50 demonstrations planned as part of the National Gay Blood Drive in various U.S. cities on Friday. The drive was planned to help draw attention to the number of potential blood donors who are automatically disqualified due to their sexual orientation. In addition to men who have sex with men, women are disqualified from giving blood if within the last 12 months they have had sex with a man who at any point since 1977 has sex with another man.
Blood Loss and Donation Watch Video
Swapping Blood for Career Advice Watch Video
Blood Bank Shows Porn to Students Watch Video

Rejected Blood Donor Wants to Sue For Discrimination

At designated blood donation centers across the country, participants in the National Gay Blood Drive were tested for HIV and if they tested negative, attempted to donate blood at a blood donation center. When they were rejected due to FDA regulations, they received a stamp and turned in their HIV testing results to be sent to the FDA.

The FDA's decades-long ban stared during the AIDS crisis and restricts any man, who has had sex with another man since 1977, from donating blood.

In recent years as HIV testing has improved the policy has come under fire for being discriminatory and outdated. In June the American Medical Association voted to oppose the ban.

The National Gay Blood Drive was organized by independent filmmaker Ryan James Yezak, 26, who was inspired to act after he was forced to explain to co-workers he could not donate blood because he was gay.

"There's a really alienating feeling," said Yezak, who is working on a documentary about discrimination based on sexual orientation. "That's the first time I felt direct anti-gay discrimination and once you feel that you can't ignore it."

Yezak said that 1,400 people have said they would attend different demonstrations. At one New York City location, there had been over 20 participants by noon.

The demonstration comes just days after the American Red Cross issued an emergency request for blood and platelet donations since June donations were down 10 percent.

Heat Deters Blood Donations

Yezak said the he hopes the FDA will craft a new blood donor policy that is based on behavior associated with high HIV risk rather than just sexual orientation. He also said one step could be adopting a policy similar to other countries, such as Canada or the United Kingdom, where men who have sex with men can donate blood if they abstain from sex for a certain period of time.

In 2010 an FDA Advisory Committee on Blood Safety found that the current ban on gay men as blood donors was "suboptimal" but voted to keep the policy pending further research. The U.S. Health and Human Services is performing additional studies to see what policy revisions should be undertaken.
Blood Loss and Donation Watch Video
Swapping Blood for Career Advice Watch Video
Blood Bank Shows Porn to Students Watch Video

According to the FDA, men who have sex with men made up 61 percent of all new HIV infections in the U.S. in 2010. Although HIV testing is performed on all donated blood, there are rare cases where HIV is not detected because the infection too new. According to the FDA there is an HIV risk in 1 out of every 2 million units of donated blood.

After requesting a comment from the FDA regarding on the National Gay Blood Drive, an FDA spokesperson wrote that the "FDA's primary responsibility with regard to blood and blood products is to assure the safety of patients who receive these life-saving products… We applaud the critical contributions made by blood donors and we are sensitive to the concerns of potential donors and other individuals affected by current blood safety policies."

-t

I wish I could get the IRS to reject my money.

[kcchiefs6465]

I also want the blood supply to be safe from pathogen but I asked and the main reason to disqualify me was the potential that I have the HIV and then they tell me that even if I can prove that I do not have the virus, I still cannot donate blood. There is something rotten about it, and if they believe I am such a danger to the system, then why let me in the country? why did I have to go through all the tests and vaccines before entering the country?

They deny people with so many tattoos as well. Even if that person is shown to be disease free. They are strict because of the repercussions. If I needed a blood transfusion I would very much rather them be overly strict, than overly PC and let anyone and everyone donate. Especially simply as some sort of equality measure.

My opinion may change and if I was in need of a blood transfusion I would definitely be more informed on the process, the tests, etc. Perhaps I am unaware of the accuracy of the tests or the increased risk but hearing these cases where someone receives HIV from a blood transfusion definitely makes me a little weary on reducing the standards.

[tangent4ronpaul]

They deny people with so many tattoos as well. Even if that person is shown to be disease free. They are strict because of the repercussions. If I needed a blood transfusion I would very much rather them be overly strict, than overly PC and let anyone and everyone donate. Especially simply as some sort of equality measure.

My opinion may change and if I was in need of a blood transfusion I would definitely be more informed on the process, the tests, etc. Perhaps I am unaware of the accuracy of the tests or the increased risk but hearing these cases where someone receives HIV from a blood transfusion definitely makes me a little weary on reducing the standards.

http://search.who.int/search?q=transfusion&ie=utf8&site=who&client=_en&proxystylesheet=_en&output=xml_no_dtd&oe=utf8&getfields=doctype

that should keep you busy for a while :D

-t

[presence]

Maybe I'm wrong, but (at least back in the day), I thought that the test wasn't sensitive enough to pick up someone who was newly infected or those who have some form of remission. Perhaps the test is better now, but I wouldn't allow gay donors unless it was 100%.

Which is why blood products are first SCREENED, then tested, then detergent treated, chemically solvent sanitized, then heat treated, freeze treated, then membrane filtered, possibly irradiated, monoclonal antibody immunoaffinity chromatography etc etc. Each time improving from 90% sure to 99% sure to 99.9%....... to 99.9999% until you have clean medicine you can give to patients with a clean conscience. Even after all that... as a family we've chosen, with the strong recommendation of doctors, to switch our son to products derived from genetically modified hamster blood because no matter how clean the science is "humans are still dirty" as my doctor puts it.

Something I don't think many donors consider is that blood products are pooled. When a leukaemia patient gets a dose of plasma they're getting it from many people. All it takes is one person in that group being sick and the patient is dead. When a patient takes IV clotting factors its from thousands of donors each dose. Hepatitis is a death sentence for these patients. Each dose is one of many distributed in batches because of the pooling of production. So one bad apple spoils the cart and can have profound effects bringing great injury to many people. Blood is a medicine of last resort and carries heavy risks. These risks need to be mitigated at every possible screening level from the quality of donors themselves straight through to monoclonal antibody immunoaffinity chromatography.

If you have clean blood PLEASE donate it to medicine.
If you have questionable blood find a way to donate to science.

This isn't about politics or gay rights,
its about best practice of medicine and patient health.





Keywords: "Blood Donor Deferral"











http://www.hemophilia.org/NHFWeb/images/MainPg/nhf_logo.gif


March 19, 2010

The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) believes that any decision to revise current blood donor deferral policies must put safety first and be made solely on the basis of scientific evidence. For this reason, NHF will be an active participant in any review and discussions on changing the donor deferral policy for men who have had sex with men (MSM) even once since 1976.

The bleeding disorders community is heavily reliant upon blood and plasma donations for the manufacture of the essential life-saving therapies on which we depend. We are grateful to all those who donate—without their generosity, treatment would not be possible for many in our community. We welcome discussions on ways to improve the safety of the nation’s blood supply not only for the bleeding disorders community, but for all who may need a blood transfusion at some time, be it for surgery or an emergency situation.

NHF asserts that any proposed changes to current donor deferral policies must satisfy the Precautionary Principle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principle). In this context, the Precautionary Principle implies that decisions must err on the side of caution in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not result from changing these policies. Unless there is evidence that a proposed change will not elevate the risk to the nation's blood supply, we must maintain current policies to protect the recipients of blood and blood products.

It is critical to remember

that our community has been devastated by death and illness resulting from contaminated blood products. People with bleeding disorders, including hemophilia A and B, von Willebrand disease and other rare bleeding disorders, continue to depend on a safe blood supply to lead healthy lives. We must avoid repeating our tragic history, which will only be possible through constant vigilance and application of the Precautionary Principle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principle) to scientific review.


NHF looks forward to participating in the discussions of the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability of the Department of Health and Human Services and with others on the existing donor deferral policies related to MSM to determine whether the current state of science supports modifications to the existing policy.

NHF also strongly supports the

statement by the World Federation of Hemophilia on blood donor deferrals (http://www.hemophilia.org/NHFWeb/Resource/StaticPages/menu0/menu7/menu303/WFHStatementBloodDonorDeferrals2010.pdf).

http://www.hemophilia.org/NHFWeb/MainPgs/MainNHF.aspx?menuid=303&contentid=1486




What is FDA's policy on blood donations from men who have sex with other men?
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/QuestionsaboutBlood/ucm108186.htm



Is FDA's policy of excluding MSM blood donors discriminatory?
FDA's deferral policy is based on the documented increased risk of certain transfusion transmissible infections, such as HIV, associated with male-to-male sex and is not based on any judgment concerning the donor's sexual orientation.
















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Dixie Press Online
(http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/07/12/kgm-sai-locals-reproach-red-cross-for-gay-ban-on-blood-donations-other-criteria-scientific-debate/)
National gay blood drive aims to lift donation ban (http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/11/health/gay-blood-drive)

CNN-Jul 11, 2013
"The lifetime ban on blood donation for men who have sex with men is discriminatory and not based on sound science," said AMA board ...


Locals reproach Red Cross for 'gay ban' on blood donations; other ... (http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/07/12/kgm-sai-locals-reproach-red-cross-for-gay-ban-on-blood-donations-other-criteria-scientific-debate/)Dixie Press Online-Jul 12, 2013

Gay and bisexual men attempt to give blood at American Red Cross ... (http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/07/gay_and_bisexual_men_attempt_t.html)OregonLive.com-Jul 12, 2013


Activists hold first gay, bisexual blood drive (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57593528/activists-hold-first-gay-bisexual-blood-drive-to-get-fda-to-change-rules/)In-Depth-CBS News-Jul 12, 2013


Breaking the Gay Blood Ban (http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/07/gay-blood-donor-ban-protest.html)Blog-New Yorker (blog)-21 hours ago

[amy31416]

But I guess the strange part about this is that the test should really be asking about specific high-risk sex acts, rather than just sexual orientation. Hetero couples engaging in anal sex are riskier than a **** couple engaging only in oral sex (and yeah they exist).

I'd agree with that, technically. But realistically is it reasonable to expect honest answers when asking questions that specific? People are rarely honest with their doctors, much less the Red Cross.

I don't know, it's not an easy position to be in when you're the blood collection agency.

[amy31416]

Which is why blood products are first SCREENED, then tested, then detergent treated, chemically solvent sanitized, then heat treated, freeze treated, then membrane filtered, possibly irradiated, monoclonal antibody immunoaffinity chromatography etc etc. Each time improving from 90% sure to 99% sure to 99.9%....... to 99.9999% until you have clean medicine you can give to patients with a clean conscience. Even after all that... as a family we've chosen, with the strong recommendation of doctors, to switch our son to products derived from genetically modified hamster blood because no matter how clean the science is "humans are still dirty" as my doctor puts it.

Something I don't think many donors consider is that blood products are pooled. When a leukaemia patient gets a dose of plasma they're getting it from many people. All it takes is one person in that group being sick and the patient is dead. When a patient takes IV clotting factors its from thousands of donors each dose. Hepatitis is a death sentence for these patients. Each dose is one of many distributed in batches because of the pooling of production. So one bad apple spoils the cart and can have profound effects bringing great injury to many people. Blood is a medicine of last resort and carries heavy risks. These risks need to be mitigated at every possible screening level from the quality of donors themselves straight through to monoclonal antibody immunoaffinity chromatography.

If you have clean blood PLEASE donate it to medicine.
If you have questionable blood find a way to donate to science.

This isn't about politics or gay rights,
its about best practice of medicine and patient health.

















http://www.hemophilia.org/NHFWeb/images/MainPg/nhf_logo.gif

http://www.hemophilia.org/NHFWeb/MainPgs/MainNHF.aspx?menuid=303&contentid=1486




What is FDA's policy on blood donations from men who have sex with other men?
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/QuestionsaboutBlood/ucm108186.htm



















Search Results





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Dixie Press Online
(http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/07/12/kgm-sai-locals-reproach-red-cross-for-gay-ban-on-blood-donations-other-criteria-scientific-debate/)
National gay blood drive aims to lift donation ban (http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/11/health/gay-blood-drive)

CNN-Jul 11, 2013
"The lifetime ban on blood donation for men who have sex with men is discriminatory and not based on sound science," said AMA board ...


Locals reproach Red Cross for 'gay ban' on blood donations; other ... (http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/07/12/kgm-sai-locals-reproach-red-cross-for-gay-ban-on-blood-donations-other-criteria-scientific-debate/)Dixie Press Online-Jul 12, 2013

Gay and bisexual men attempt to give blood at American Red Cross ... (http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/07/gay_and_bisexual_men_attempt_t.html)OregonLive.com-Jul 12, 2013


Activists hold first gay, bisexual blood drive (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57593528/activists-hold-first-gay-bisexual-blood-drive-to-get-fda-to-change-rules/)In-Depth-CBS News-Jul 12, 2013


Breaking the Gay Blood Ban (http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/07/gay-blood-donor-ban-protest.html)Blog-New Yorker (blog)-21 hours ago


No need to be grouchy--I'm not a phlebotomist.

Thanks for the info though.

[juleswin]

They deny people with so many tattoos as well. Even if that person is shown to be disease free. They are strict because of the repercussions. If I needed a blood transfusion I would very much rather them be overly strict, than overly PC and let anyone and everyone donate. Especially simply as some sort of equality measure.

My opinion may change and if I was in need of a blood transfusion I would definitely be more informed on the process, the tests, etc. Perhaps I am unaware of the accuracy of the tests or the increased risk but hearing these cases where someone receives HIV from a blood transfusion definitely makes me a little weary on reducing the standards.

So they still refuse to take blood from a person even if said person is shown to be disease free. I believe the only reason it is this way is because the rules are set by govt organizations. I have looked at the form and can you believe that spouses of people of the list are still OK to donate blood? In my case, all it requires is that I have lived/visited Nigeria anytime after 1978, it doesn't matter what I did while I was there, all they care about is that I stepped on the soil anytime between 1978 and today. It makes no sense, I can understand if they asked whether I had unprotected sex during my trip or engaged in blood sports or got a traditional tattoo etc etc.

And then you see the people they take the blood from and you will understand how asinine the regulation is. I am talking about druggies, homeless people, people whose very life is high risk lifestyle. Those people are so broke that they most likely lie on the questionnaire but they still take it anyway.

[eduardo89]

Ban blood.

[kcchiefs6465]

So they still refuse to take blood from a person even if said person is shown to be disease free. I believe the only reason it is this way is because the rules are set by govt organizations. I have looked at the form and can you believe that spouses of people of the list are still OK to donate blood? In my case, all it requires is that I have lived/visited Nigeria anytime after 1978, it doesn't matter what I did while I was there, all they care about is that I stepped on the soil anytime between 1978 and today. It makes no sense, I can understand if they asked whether I had unprotected sex during my trip or engaged in blood sports or got a traditional tattoo etc etc.

And then you see the people they take the blood from and you will understand how asinine the regulation is. I am talking about druggies, homeless people, people whose very life is high risk lifestyle. Those people are so broke that they most likely lie on the questionnaire but they still take it anyway.
I was denied for trivial reasons myself. I'm not an expert on the entire process and you make a good point.

I know they do check for needle marks or indication of intravenous drug use. People could still hide them, sure. I'm all for them looking at a person's appearance or requiring a drug screening. In my opinion marijuana shouldn't be a disqualifier but heroin should. Anything that increases risk. I was asked 20-30 questions from everything of have I ever visited Africa to if I had a cold in the last few months. I have no doubt some of these people may lie.

I don't know. I am not sure of the exact processes. Before I'd say we need to scale back the restrictions for donating blood, I'd need to be more educated on the process and the exact usages for the blood. (or plasma, or what have you)

Even with regards to genetically modified hamster blood, I'm just not informed enough on the subject. My opinion as it stands, especially after learning bloods are pooled together, it seems the restrictions aren't unreasonable. I'm more at that I support them donating blood for scientific researches but not for medicine. If God forbid I needed a blood transfusion, I'd hope the standards are high.

[TonySutton]

The reality is that many gays might be giving blood everyday across the US. There is no way to validate whether a person is answering truthfully. So while the honest people are protesting the dishonest people are donating.

[oyarde]

Looks like Germany , Belgium & Holland are from 1980 - 1990. Spain , Portugal , Italy , Greece, Turkey, England , UK , 1980 - 1996, after that the list gets longer ....

[tangent4ronpaul]

So they still refuse to take blood from a person even if said person is shown to be disease free. I believe the only reason it is this way is because the rules are set by govt organizations. I have looked at the form and can you believe that spouses of people of the list are still OK to donate blood? In my case, all it requires is that I have lived/visited Nigeria anytime after 1978, it doesn't matter what I did while I was there, all they care about is that I stepped on the soil anytime between 1978 and today. It makes no sense, I can understand if they asked whether I had unprotected sex during my trip or engaged in blood sports or got a traditional tattoo etc etc.

And then you see the people they take the blood from and you will understand how asinine the regulation is. I am talking about druggies, homeless people, people whose very life is high risk lifestyle. Those people are so broke that they most likely lie on the questionnaire but they still take it anyway.

"We have to fight them over there so we don't have to fight them here".

Well, this is a different kind of "war". It amazes me that so many here are against all foreign aid, particularly "defensive" foreign aid in our own self interest... if you get my drift.

-t

[juleswin]

I was denied for trivial reasons myself. I'm not an expert on the entire process and you make a good point.

I know they do check for needle marks or indication of intravenous drug use. People could still hide them, sure. I'm all for them looking at a person's appearance or requiring a drug screening. In my opinion marijuana shouldn't be a disqualifier but heroin should. Anything that increases risk. I was asked 20-30 questions from everything of have I ever visited Africa to if I had a cold in the last few months. I have no doubt some of these people may lie.

I don't know. I am not sure of the exact processes. Before I'd say we need to scale back the restrictions for donating blood, I'd need to be more educated on the process and the exact usages for the blood. (or plasma, or what have you)

Even with regards to genetically modified hamster blood, I'm just not informed enough on the subject. My opinion as it stands, especially after learning bloods are pooled together, it seems the restrictions aren't unreasonable. I'm more at that I support them donating blood for scientific researches but not for medicine. If God forbid I needed a blood transfusion, I'd hope the standards are high.

I too am no expert when it comes to blood testing but you'll think that people who are so cautious about the blood they receive have no restriction for the spouse of those in the restricted groups. Just imagine, I could be having sex and exchanging body fluids with someone who can donate to the blood bank and its fine and dandy with them.

It just makes no sense, what they are looking for is not airborne but rather is transmitted via bodily fluids but visiting some parts of Africa disqualifies you while sleeping with someone who has visited doesn't.

[oyarde]

I have no idea , is the West Africa thing because of the one different type of HIV ?

[presence]

No need to be grouchy--I'm not a phlebotomist.

Thanks for the info though.


Didn't mean to come off snarky. I'm just my 4 year old's advocate :)

[tangent4ronpaul]

Even with regards to genetically modified hamster blood, I'm just not informed enough on the subject. My opinion as it stands, especially after learning bloods are pooled together, it seems the restrictions aren't unreasonable. I'm more at that I support them donating blood for scientific researches but not for medicine. If God forbid I needed a blood transfusion, I'd hope the standards are high.

Where is this genetically modified hamster blood coming from? Gotta ref?

Where did you learn that bloods are pooled together? I can see plasma, but blood? Blood is drawn and tested. You can only donate a unit at a time. Problem is that if you need blood, you need a lot of it! But the recipient gets the blood from the same bag the donor deposited it into. Unless you are talking about direct transfusions, but that is austere medicine and a lot more risky...

-t

[presence]

I also want the blood supply to be safe from pathogen but I asked and the main reason to disqualify me was the potential that I have the HIV and then they tell me that even if I can prove that I do not have the virus, I still cannot donate blood. There is something rotten about it, and if they believe I am such a danger to the system, then why let me in the country? why did I have to go through all the tests and vaccines before entering the country?

Another problem I have is that the law hamstringing these facilities are federal laws which explains why it makes no sense. The blood is tested anyway for HIV and other blood transmitted virus and they still refuse to take your blood. Also to be consistent, they should also refuse the blood from anyone who has had intimate contact with anyone on the no-list.

I usually answer a question similar to "have you recently had unprotected sex with an at risk group" when giving blood.

With God's grace you're probably just fine... but you've been exposed to an environment that "tends" to produce bad blood products. The "level of testing" that currently goes into a pint of blood pushes the cost to about $1500/pint. That testing is only so accurate. The more accurate you want the more expensive it is... some diseased blood slips through. Hopefully secondary filtration fixes it... so long as secondary methods aren't overwhelmed they'll probably fare just fine. But much like water filtration... If you "pre sediment filter" you don't muck up your carbon final filtration and you get cleaner water in the long run.

[presence]

Where is this genetically modified hamster blood coming from? Gotta ref?

Where did you learn that bloods are pooled together? I can see plasma, but blood? Blood is drawn and tested. You can only donate a unit at a time. Problem is that if you need blood, you need a lot of it! But the recipient gets the blood from the same bag the donor deposited it into. Unless you are talking about direct transfusions, but that is austere medicine and a lot more risky...

-t

tangent those were my statements. My 4 year old son has "severe hemophilia". To treat that I inject via IV my choice of human blood products (mononine/alphanine) or GMO hamster products (benefix) twice weekly. A single "human based" dose contains donations from 1-2 thousand distinct donors. The hamster products are grown in a Petri dish. Each choice carries risk. Donated blood goes to many different types of patients. 1/3 of all blood goes to immunocomprimised cancer patients. Some get plama, some whole blood, some clotting factors, others white cells, etc. Though a dose of "whole blood" may often be from a single donor, a single recipient often needs multiple. And in the case of plasma or "blood product" recipients it may run into the 1000's or 100,000's; even exposure to millions of donors over time. My son took blood from about 100k donors before we switched to GMO products.

[tangent4ronpaul]

I usually answer a question similar to "have you recently had unprotected sex with an at risk group" when giving blood.

With God's grace you're probably just fine... but you've been exposed to an environment that "tends" to produce bad blood products. The "level of testing" that currently goes into a pint of blood pushes the cost to about $1500/pint. That testing is only so accurate. The more accurate you want the more expensive it is... some diseased blood slips through. Hopefully secondary filtration fixes it... so long as secondary methods aren't overwhelmed they'll probably fare just fine. But much like water filtration... If you "pre sediment filter" you don't muck up your carbon final filtration and you get cleaner water in the long run.

I can guarantee you that equivalent testing overseas doesn't cost anywhere near $1500/pint.

Considering your situation, where your kid is going to need regular transfusions for the rest of their life, how about bypassing the gvmt? Learn how to do it yourself and find a group of known, clean donors who are willing to donate on a regular basis. That way you don't need to test. This place isn't the cheapest, but they don't require Rx's for the supplies like some places do:

http://www.chinookmed.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=s-iv_io

Also, if the SHTF your screwed.

One other note is that while everything in the US is supposed to be single use, "disposable" supplies can be cleaned and reused a number of times.

-t

[juleswin]

I usually answer a question similar to "have you recently had unprotected sex with an at risk group" when giving blood.



But shouldn't the question be "have you EVER had unprotected sex with ....."? I bet if private organization took over the regulations, the prices will drop 5 fold and half of the useless restrictions will be gone in a month.

[presence]

I can guarantee you that equivalent testing overseas doesn't cost anywhere near $1500/pint.

Considering your situation, where your kid is going to need regular transfusions for the rest of their life, how about bypassing the gvmt? Learn how to do it yourself and find a group of known, clean donors who are willing to donate on a regular basis. That way you don't need to test. This place isn't the cheapest, but they don't require Rx's for the supplies like some places do:

http://www.chinookmed.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=s-iv_io

Also, if the SHTF your screwed.

One other note is that while everything in the US is supposed to be single use, "disposable" supplies can be cleaned and reused a number of times.

-t


Yeah the SHTF situation sucks.

I'm a do it yourselfer to the core... but what you propose is really easier said than done.

Here's cook it in your kitchen Methamphetamine:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Methamphetamine.svg/800px-Methamphetamine.svg.png






and here's grow (or extract) it in a fancy lab: Factor IX


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/PDB_1pfx_EBI.jpg

[tangent4ronpaul]

Yeah the SHTF situation sucks.

I'm a do it yourselfer to the core... but what you propose is really easier said than done.



Transfusions are really not that big of a deal. Check out the link to the WHO library I posted earlier and you can learn more than you really want to about transfusions, blood banking, testing, etc.

Aside from saving a ton of money, it's the only viable SHTF solution.

-t

[presence]

But shouldn't the question be "have you EVER had unprotected sex with ....."? I bet if private organization took over the regulations, the prices will drop 5 fold and half of the useless restrictions will be gone in a month.

MSM are at risk not just because of unprotected anal sex events in the past but also a "lifestyle" that correlates to unhealthy blood. Just as someone that visited Africa in the 80's is also of a certain "lifestyle" that tends to correlate with unhealthy blood. Can we say absolutely that its anal sex back in 1977 that is the "cause"; no just the correlation. Its not to say I judge either lifestyle or the medical community judges that lifestyle to be right or wrong; but that individuals who answer yes to those questions tend to correlate with unhealthy blood. Actuaries find that some groups correlate strongly during lifetimes and some groups correlate strongly within "deferral periods". So someone who had unprotected sex with an at risk group in the distant past may not be as great a risk to the blood supply as someone who them self were part of that at risk group because to be part of that at risk group is not just an "event" but a lifestyle.

[presence]

Transfusions are really not that big of a deal. Check out the link to the WHO library I posted earlier and you can learn more than you really want to about transfusions, blood banking, testing, etc.

Aside from saving a ton of money, it's the only viable SHTF solution.

-t


My son receives "infusions" of clotting factor. Not transfusions of whole blood. It might take 2000 pints of whole blood to make one of his 5 ml dose syringes of Factor IX. The remainder of that blood is made into other products for other patients. You're talking about a highly technical process, quite recently invented, which if it was done incorrectly could cause instant death.

SHTF is a non-option for the hemotology/oncology community.

In other countries where such meds are "cheaper" such as India, they are often reselling "out dated" meds from 1st world nations. No matter where you live it is very expensive to keep cancer patients and hemophiliacs alive. If you do a bit a research you'll find that getting 1000 IU of fIX into a syringe is a small miracle of science not easily duplicated.

Theoretically, in a SHTF scenario my son would be dependant upon a regular supply of plasma (ideally cryoprecipitate) and it would be far less effective than the more highly refined meds he currently receives.

[eduardo89]

In other countries where such meds are "cheaper" such as India, they are often reselling "out dated" meds from 1st world nations.

Here in Mexico metamizole is still a very commonly used painkiller, despite being banned in the US since 1977 and most of Europe since the 80s because it is linked with a condition that kills white blood cells.

[oyarde]

What effects do Dengue and Malaria have on blood collection ? That would cover Florida, Mexico,Central America,South Ameica and the bottom half of Africa .

[eduardo89]

What effects do Dengue and Malaria have on blood collection ? That would cover Florida, Mexico,Central America,South Ameica and the bottom half of Africa .

How The Malaria Parasite Hijacks Human Red Blood Cells (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080708155615.htm)

new study--done on a scale an order of magnitude greater than anything previously attempted in the field of malaria--has uncovered an arsenal of proteins produced by the malaria parasite that allows it to hijack and remodel human red blood cells, leaving the oxygen-carrying cells stiff and sticky. Those effects on the blood cells play a major role in the development of malaria, a disease responsible for millions of deaths every year, the researchers report in the July 11th issue of the journal Cell.

[PaulConventionWV]

Soon enough, it will be illegal to refuse to buy from or sell anything to gay men. All transactions that a gay person wants to happen MUST happen, because they are gay.

[oyarde]

I sell things to everyone and pay no attention to laws.

[juleswin]

What effects do Dengue and Malaria have on blood collection ? That would cover Florida, Mexico,Central America,South Ameica and the bottom half of Africa .

Dengue has been virtually wiped out of Nigeria with the vaccine and malaria is killed off by the body's immune system or medicine. The real reason why some blood from anyone who has visited some African countries is rejected is because of the possible presence of HIV. Its not dengue, its not malaria or whatever and this is strange since you cannot get a VISA from any of those countries without a vigorous test and vaccination program from the US consulate approved testing lab. Before I came in for the interview, we had to submit(lab sent it) lots of medical documents showing we are clean.

Then again, if they really believe that people from those countries are a high risk, then shouldn't they warn the general public? why only the blood donation centers. Better yet, cancel the very extensive and expensive tests and just refuse them VISA

[KingRobbStark]

True , but I am trying to reform him, where he could at least say it was not pleasureable.I wish he would come back too .

Come back safety man, school isn't over yet!