FDA changes deferral policy for MSM blood donors

FDA policies and actions

Throughout the process of updating blood donor deferral policies over the past several years, the FDA has worked with other government agencies, considered input from external advisory committees, reviewed comments from stakeholders to its May 2015 draft guidance, and examined the most recent available scientific evidence to support the current policy revision.

The FDA has also implemented a nationally representative safety monitoring system for the blood supply with assistance from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health. This system will provide information to help inform future actions the FDA may take on blood donor policies.

The FDA said it will continue to reevaluate and update its blood donor deferral policies as new scientific information becomes available.