MSM Blood Donor Controversy

MSM Blood Donor Controversy

The gay male blood donor controversy refers to the dispute over prohibitions on donations of blood or tissue for organ transplants from gay men. The restrictions target men who have sex with men (MSM), a classification of men who engage (or have engaged in the past) in sex with other men, regardless of whether they identify themselves as gay, bisexual, or otherwise. Opposition to the prohibition is most frequently addressed in terms of gay men. The MSM group, which includes gay men, is considered to be at high risk for HIV/AIDS since the AIDS pandemic was first identified in gay communities. MSM are also at high risk for some types of hepatitis and syphilis. These pathogens can be transmitted in blood transfusions. Restrictions on donors are sometimes called "deferrals" since blood donors who are found ineligible may be accepted at a later date. The restrictions vary from country to country, and in many cases men are deferred who have not had sex with men for many years. The restrictions affect these men and any female sex partners. They do not otherwise affect women, including women who have sex with women. Critics of many of the bans claim these policies are not supported by medical science.

Many LGBT organizations view the restrictions on donation as based on homophobia and not based on valid medical concern since donations are rigorously tested to rule out donors that are infected. They state the bans are based on stereotypes instead of science. Proponents of the lifetime restriction defend it because of the risk of false negative test results and because the MSM population in developed countries tends to have a relatively high prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection. Studies have found, to varying extents, that the potential risk of transfusion of HIV infected blood would increase if MSM were allowed to donate blood. Opponents of prohibitions against MSM point out that screening of donors should focus on sexual behavior as well as safe sex practices, and any use of needles regardless why they are used. Some groups in favor of lifting the restrictions support a waiting period after the blood is donated when the donor is considered to have had behavior considered higher risk, and before it is used, to match the blood bank's window of testing methods. Depending on the testing method used, the window to detect HIV can be as short as three weeks (NAT testing method), or as long as three months (serology testing method).