Health Canada will allow sexually active gay men to donate blood without any deferral period.
The decision is based on a request from Canadian Blood Services and will now allow all men who have sex with men to donate blood without a three-month blanket donor deferral period.
According to the news release, Canadian Blood Services will now screen all donors, regardless of gender or sexuality, for high-risk sexual behaviours.
The change is expected to take effect starting September 30, 2022, as Canadian Blood Services plans to implement the new donor screening approach that will apply to all donors of blood and plasma by that time.
Health Canada says the authorization follows recommendations and assessment of evidence supporting the safety of the revised donor screening from a group of scientific and medical experts knowledgeable in the field of blood safety.
Health Canada is responsible for regulatory oversight of the safety of blood supply in the country and enforces regulations that Canada’s 2 blood operators – Canadian Blood Services (CBS) and Héma-Québec (HQ) – must follow.