More Australians will be able to donate plasma from July 14 under changes to sexual activity rules, though restrictions on whole blood donations remain in place for at least another year.
From next month, gay and bisexual men and transgender women who have sex with men will be able to donate plasma with no deferral period, according to Lifeblood, a division of the Red Cross.
The updated rules remove the requirement for a sexual abstinence period before donating plasma. However, a three-month abstinence period from having anal sex still applies to those wanting to donate whole blood.
People taking the HIV prevention drug PrEP will now also be able to donate plasma, although they remain ineligible to donate blood. The only people still barred from donating plasma are those who have HIV and those with a partner who has HIV.
Lifeblood chief medical officer Jo Pink told Gay Sydney News that plasma donations were in high demand and the changes came at a crucial time.
“Plasma is … the fluid part of your blood and it’s packed full of proteins … and those are used to treat a whole range of conditions,” she said.
“So because it was the pathway which allowed the very most number of people to donate, that’s what we prioritised first.”
Pink said rules around whole blood donations would take longer to change due to different screening requirements that are not currently available.
“Plasma medicines undergo an additional processing step called pathogen and activation and that further reduces the risk of passing on an infection such as HIV … but that type of technology is not available for blood and that’s the reason why we need to have different rules,” she said.
When the new rules take effect, all potential donors will be asked the same questions about their sexual activity, regardless of their gender or sexuality.
People who have had the same sexual partner for six months or more, or who have abstained from anal sex for three months, will be eligible to donate blood. Those who have had anal sex with a new or multiple partners within the last three months will not be eligible to donate whole blood – but will still be able to donate plasma.
“It really unlocks the ability to donate for so many more people,” said Pink.
Just.Equal Australia’s “Let Us Give” campaign has advocated for blood donation reform for years.
Just.Equal spokesperson Rodney Croome told Gay Sydney News the decision was long overdue.
“This is a world-class reform for which Lifeblood deserves applause. It will mean Australian lives are saved because there will be more safe blood available for those in need,” said Croome.
“We applaud this step forward but we have a continuing concern that the new whole blood rules will be confusing.”
In countries such as Canada, the UK and the US, donors are asked whether they have had anal sex in the past three months. If they have, they are temporarily deferred from donating.
“The rule of allowing donations if you’ve been monogamous for six months or if you haven’t had anal sex with your multiple partners in the last three months do not make sense,” said Croome.
“The last two rules are inconsistent, they’re confusing and they are medically unnecessary.”
Independent NSW MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, also welcomed the change by Lifeblood, made in consultation with the federal Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“You’ve had a cohort of the population – a fit and healthy cohort – who have wanted to donate blood and have not been able to for reasons that did not make sense and so it’s really great to see that removed,” Greenwich said.
He added that he had already seen a positive response on social media and looked forward to donating himself.
“LGBT people want to be treated equally in all areas of the law and that includes areas where we want to be able to make a contribution.”
Australians interested in donating plasma next month can visit lifeblood.com.au to find a participating donor centre.
Gay Sydney News reporter
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Take note if you’ve just had the monkeypox vaccine, you can’t donate blood plasma for two months.