Blood donation ban for gay men to be lifted

Laws prohibiting gay men from donating blood are to be lifted following a review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs.

The committee has analysed criteria such as the risk of infection, attitudes to compliance with selection criteria and improved methods of testing donated blood, before deciding that lifetime bans on blood donation for homosexual males are no longer necessary.

Under the terms of the new regulations, which will come into effect on November 7th, men whose last sexual contact with another man was more than 12 months ago will be able to donate.

These revised criteria will bring the guidelines for gay men in line with other groups with deferred 12-month donation restrictions due to infection risks associated with sexual behaviour.

Public health minister Anne Milton said: "It is important that people comply with all donor selection criteria, which are in place to protect the health of both donors and transfusion recipients."

Last month, the government introduced new questions to driving licence application forms relating to organ donations, in order to boost the number of UK donors.