Red Cross to ease sexual activity restrictions on some donors

The Red Cross has announced changes to its donation rules which currently restrict many gay, bisexual and transgender donors.

Transcript

00:00Well there's two rule changes that will be coming into place.

00:05Now the first is the removal of sexual activity based wait times for the donation of plasma

00:11and that will come into effect from July 14th.

00:14Now under current donor rules here in Australia that prevents many gay and bisexual men

00:19as well as transgender women who have sex with men from being able to donate blood and plasma

00:25if they've engaged in sexual activity in the last three months.

00:29Lifeblood has effectively called this rule change a plasma pathway

00:33and they say that there's extensive research that now shows there's little to no impact

00:38when it comes to donating plasma as well as having those wait times.

00:42The second rule change which has been pre-approved by the TGA

00:46and Lifeblood are hoping will be implemented in 2026

00:49is the removal of gender based sexual activity rules for donations of blood and platelets.

00:56Now what that all means is that all donors will now be asked the same questions

01:00when it comes to their sexual activity and that's regardless of their gender or their sexuality.

01:06It's something that the organisation says is a significant milestone

01:10and they've acknowledged that previous rules had limited many members of the LGBTQIA plus community.

01:17They say that they're hopeful that this will increase donations by more than 95,000 per year.

01:23Certainly one way to pump up that blood drive.

01:26But as always if you are looking to donate any form of blood or plasma

01:30always check online for the eligibility criteria especially before you head in for your appointment.

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