Final Guidance Released on New Blood Donor Criteria

On May 11, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a final guidance that moves blood donor screening criteria to individual, risk-based assessments for the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The guidance establishes blood–donor–screening criteria based on individual behaviors, not sexual orientation or gender identity.

LifeSouth supports the new guidance and its use of evidence-based deferral periods that are applied fairly and consistently among blood donors.

Donor deferrals for those who use pre-exposure and post-exposure drugs will remain in place.

LifeSouth is working to implement these changes. We will communicate more details as we develop an implementation timeline.

We look forward to welcoming new donors to help in our mission to provide a safe and consistent blood supply for patients in need.

If you have questions regarding the new screening criteria or your eligibility, please contact medicaloffice@lifesouth.org.

FDA Guidance

https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/recommendations-evaluating-donor-eligibility-using-individual-risk-based-questions-reduce-risk-human

More information will be provided when available.