Should men who have ever had sex with men be allowed to donate blood in Brazil?

Author(s)

Martinez, Edson Zangiacomi ; Galdino, Guilherme ; Zucoloto, Miriane Lucindo

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy; v. 46, n. 4, p. 4-pg., 2024-09-17.

Abstract

Many countries have modified their policies on banning or deferring blood donation by men who have sex with men (MSM) in light of ethical concerns and new evidence about transfusion risks. In Brazil, MSM were not eligible to donate blood unless they had been celibate for the previous 12 months. However, in May 2020, the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court overturned this restriction. Many authors have attempted to stress possible risks of transfusion-transmitted infection under various scenarios of changes in bans or restrictions on donations by MSM using mathematical models, but we consider that it is a difficult task due to the wide variety of sexual behaviors, attitudes, and practices. Among these factors, we highlight sex under the influence of illicit drugs, and the fact that people with an undetectable human immunodeficiency virus viral load have the potential to transmit should their blood be transfused. Despite these possible risks, we believe that some MSM can donate blood regardless of the time elapsed since their last sexual contact, especially because blood donations by MSM were occurring even when there were time-based deferral rules. Blood banks should always seek to use screening algorithms to identify high-risk sexual behaviors using gender-neutral criteria, and education about transfusion risks should be offered to healthcare workers and MSM. (c) 2024 Associacao Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular. Published by Elsevier Espa & ntilde;a, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/02187-4 - Attitude and practice of blood donation by men who have sex with men and the effects of restrictions flexibilization due to the Covid-19 pandemic on transfusion risk
• Grantee: Miriane Lucindo Zucoloto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/00556-5 - Perceptions, attitude and practice of the LGBTQ population toward blood donation
• Grantee: Guilherme Galdino
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 23/10473-5 - Blood donation among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men after relaxation of deferral policies in Brazil
• Grantee: Edson Zangiacomi Martinez
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants