Welcome

Donor selection policies are an important element in safeguarding the Australian blood supply. 

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (Blood Service) has set up a review of current deferral policies relating to sexual activity of blood donors.

The aim of the review is to ensure that the deferral policies and the questions donors are asked are scientifically based, are relevant to Australia, and are in keeping with international practice.

Members of the public have been invited to make submissions to the Review Committee addressing concerns and providing suggestions regarding Blood Service deferral criteria relating to sexual activity.  These criteria can be found in the Background.

The submission process has now closed, and submissions are being analysed and collated for presentation to the Review Committee.

Inaugural review committee meeting
Members of the review committee met on Tuesday 14 December 2010.

Sexual activity-based donor deferral policies and the rationale behind the policies in Australia were discussed as well as international policies regarding sexual behaviour and blood donor deferral.

Public submissions to the committee were reviewed.

The Committee plans to meet again at the end of March 2011.

Review committee meeting
Members of the review committee met on Thursday 31 March 2011.

Australian epidemiological data regarding sexually transmitted infections that are transfusion transmissible were discussed. The terms of reference for the review were discussed based on the best available evidence. An outline and process for completing a draft report was decided. The report will inform the final recommendations of the committee.

The committee plans to meet and discuss the draft report in June 2011.

Review committee meeting
Members of the review committee met in person on Friday June 10 and by phone conference on July 8, 2011.

Evidence-based scenario analyses incorporating modeled risk estimates for various sexual activity-based donor deferral policies have been reviewed by the committee. The Committee considered both the appropriateness of current policies and potential for revision in light of the scenario analysis, epidemiological data, ethical/legal issues and other relevant information. The format for the final report format was agreed however the report itself will not be available before the end of 2011.