Transcript
In response to an urgent need for blood donors, the FDA is changing donation guidelines effective immediately.
The changes should make it possible for many more people to give blood than before.
The FDA is loosening guidelines put in place during the HIV epidemic that prevented many gay men from donating blood.
Until now male donors would have been deferred to wait for a year after having sex with another man.
Now there is only a three month waiting period.
The same shorter period applies to donors who have had tattoos or piercings.
And for people who travel to countries where there is exposure to malaria, the waiting period has also been reduced.
Until now people who spent time in European countries or military bases where there was a risk of mad cow disease had to wait.
Now the waiting period for those potential blood donors has been eliminated.
The American Red Cross says they have imposed safety practices to protect donors when they give blood.
The FDA says coronavirus is a respiratory illness and is not believed to be transmitted by blood.
Posted – 4.3.20