Media contact: Sarah Martin
Regional Communications Manager
sarah.martin5@redcross.org | 951-432-9625

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 7, 2024) – A year ago today, the American Red Cross announced a significant milestone in its commitment to equality, inclusivity and security of the nation’s blood supply. Our teams implemented an updated blood donor screening process called the Individual Donor Assessment (IDA) under new guidelines issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under the new FDA guidelines, all potential donors – regardless of sexual orientation, sex, or gender – will be screened with a revised questionnaire that evaluates individual risk for HIV based on sexual behavior, recent partners, and other factors. The IDA ends decades-old FDA policy requiring gay men to abstain from sex for three months prior to donating and instead focuses on risk factors.

"The Individual Donor Assessment approach marks a pivotal shift toward a more inclusive and equitable blood donation policy,” said Heidi Ruster, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region. “This is a positive step toward meeting the critical need for a secure, diverse blood supply, while emphasizing safety and inclusion for all.”

Salt Lake resident Chris Van Bibber was among the first gay men to donate blood under this new policy on the first day of implementation, August 7, 2023. One year later, Chris is a regular blood donor and says he is deeply grateful for this positive change. “This cause is close to my heart, as my mother received a blood transfusion during childbirth,” said Van Bibber. “I'm proud to honor her by giving back to the community. Being able to contribute after all these years is not just a personal achievement, but a collective step forward for inclusivity and equality.”

The Red Cross has supported changing the deferral policy concerning sexually active gay men, supported by decades of data collection and assessments to improve transfusion safety. The Red Cross has also been an ongoing advocate for eliminating donor questions based on sexual orientation and was a leading contributor to the FDA-funded study that led to changes in donor eligibility. "We need individuals like Chris who feel strongly about donating blood,” said Ruster, “These new donors can help us with the current donation slump that could strain our nation’s blood supply.”

Along with its industry partners, the Red Cross uses many layers of safety to help protect the blood supply and health of our valued donors, including eligibility screening and rigorous testing performed on each donation. To ensure every unit is safe for transfusion, each donation is tested for HIV, hepatitis B & C, and other transfusion-transmitted agents. “Patients can feel confident and trust that the blood they receive is safe,” Ruster said.

Schedule your blood donation today
The American Red Cross is experiencing a critical nationwide blood shortage. Our national blood supply saw a staggering decrease of over 19,000 blood donations across the country in July. This alarming drop in blood inventory across the nation poses a serious threat to patient care, prompting the Red Cross of Utah to urge the community to donate blood and safeguard the availability of lifesaving treatments. The shortage stems from decreased summer donations and the cancellation of numerous blood drives due to natural disasters and extreme heat. The current number of incoming donations is not keeping pace with hospitals’ demand for blood.

Donors can easily book an appointment through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a token of appreciation, all donors visiting between Aug. 1-31, 2024, will receive a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. For more information, please visit RedCrossBlood.org/Help.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.