But concerned… All blood donated should already be under the strictest screening anyway so nothing should be different apart from those who are in committed relationship and others who don’t have risky sex being allowed to donate and those who do rish regardless of sexual orientation excluded.
I would encourage those gay men who engage only in safer sex and who have tested negative for HIV in the previous 6 months to donate blood if they wish.
If sub-Saharan African people are allowed to donate (despite being at greater risk of being positive) then clearly no-one can take the ban seriousluy.
Those from Sub-Saharan Africa are banned for twelve months. After that, their risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual contact falls to that of any other heterosexual person living in the UK. And if they are HIV+, it will show up when blood products are tested.
Most , mainly straight, people i know in charities and local authorities are totally shocked when i tell them this ban on gay donors is in place, They had no idea, and what is more they have no fears, as long as good screening is in place. Surely blood can be tested less expensively?The ten year celibacy idea is a joke, and an oppres.sive one at that
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Excellent. So good to see the people in the know taking this action.
It’s clear the majority support the end to this discrimination. I hope it comes sooner rather than later.
dear God no! At least not until there is an affordable way to use virakl load tests on every sample.
Do you know if the sample tests are so expensive because of the price the medical companies charge?
But concerned… All blood donated should already be under the strictest screening anyway so nothing should be different apart from those who are in committed relationship and others who don’t have risky sex being allowed to donate and those who do rish regardless of sexual orientation excluded.
I would encourage those gay men who engage only in safer sex and who have tested negative for HIV in the previous 6 months to donate blood if they wish.
If sub-Saharan African people are allowed to donate (despite being at greater risk of being positive) then clearly no-one can take the ban seriousluy.
Those from Sub-Saharan Africa are banned for twelve months. After that, their risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual contact falls to that of any other heterosexual person living in the UK. And if they are HIV+, it will show up when blood products are tested.
Most , mainly straight, people i know in charities and local authorities are totally shocked when i tell them this ban on gay donors is in place, They had no idea, and what is more they have no fears, as long as good screening is in place. Surely blood can be tested less expensively?The ten year celibacy idea is a joke, and an oppres.sive one at that