FDA guidance would revise blood donor deferral recommendations

The Food and Drug Administration this week issued draft guidance that would revise blood donor deferral recommendations for individuals at increased risk for transmitting HIV. Since September 1985, FDA has recommended that blood establishments indefinitely defer male donors who have had sex with another male at least once since 1977, in part due to high HIV infection rates in that population. The draft guidance would change the blood donor deferral period from indefinite deferral to one year since the last sexual contact, among other changes. The agency will accept comments on the draft guidance for 60 days, according to a notice to be published in tomorrow’s Federal Register.