The incidents of HIV transmission through blood transfusions were evident through anecdotal evidence in the past, but now the number is supposed to be 1 in 1.47 million. That seems low, but considering that donated blood is supposed to be tested prior to being pumped into another human, somehow that one got through.
In any event, gay men have been banned from giving blood for 30 years, until yesterday. That's when the FDA announced they've lifted the ban provided that the donor has not had sex with another man within a year. Excerpt:
As part of today’s finalized blood donor deferral guidance, the FDA is changing its recommendation that men who have sex with men (MSM) be indefinitely deferred – a policy that has been in place for approximately 30 years – to 12 months since the last sexual contact with another man. These updated recommendations better align the deferral period for MSM with the deferral period for other men and women at increased risk for HIV infection – such as those who had a recent blood transfusion or those who have been accidentally exposed to the blood of another individual.
One has to speculate that a lot of political pressure was placed on the FDA to make this change. The Red Cross' Eligibility Criteria doesn't reflect the FDA's revisions, at least as of a few minutes ago. But they'll probably go along, and if they are getting government money, they will definitely go along.
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