Red Cross to Implement FDA Eligibility Changes

On June 8, the American Red Cross will implement changes to donor eligibility criteria announced earlier this spring by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in its updated guidance for human immunodeficiency virus, malaria and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or “mad cow.”  We welcome these changes, which we hope will allow more individuals to donate much-needed blood, and ensure we can meet patient needs throughout this pandemic and beyond.

• In alignment with the updated FDA guidance, Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products, the Red Cross will reduce deferral periods for transmission risks associated with HIV from 12 months to three months. Donors who may be affected by this change include:
  • Male donors who would have been deferred for having sex with another man (MSM);
    
  • Female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with a man who had sex with another man;
    
  • Donors with recent tattoos and piercings; and
    
  • Others who would have been previously deferred.
    
    The Red Cross believes blood donation eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based on sexual orientation. We are committed to working toward achieving this goal, and are encouraged by this FDA eligibility change which we view as a scientifically based interim step to achieving our greater goal.
    
• In alignment with the updated FDA guidance, Revised Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria, the Red Cross will change its deferral period for travel to malaria-endemic areas from 12 months to three months.
• In alignment with the updated FDA guidance, Recommendations to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Blood and Blood Components, the Red Cross will change, and simplify, its deferrals for individuals who spent time in certain European countries or on military bases in Europe and were previously considered to have been exposed to a potential risk of transmission of CJD or vCJD—also known as “mad cow.”

We encourage individuals who believe they may now be eligible to give under the new FDA guidelines to visit RedCrossBlood.org to learn more about donor eligibility requirements that help ensure the safety of both blood donors and blood recipients.

It’s important to emphasize that we continue to work diligently to remove current Red Cross deferrals under the former eligibility policies which will be updated over the upcoming weeks and months. These deferrals cannot be removed at our blood drives or donation centers due to onsite system access limitations. People may contact our Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276 for information about donor eligibility and deferrals.

The Red Cross also remains steadfast in our commitment to ensure that every blood recipient has access to safe, lifesaving blood products when needed.