The pilot project in Calgary and London will use a behaviour-based screening questionnaire in lieu of policies that single out queer and trans people
Last week, Canadian Blood Services (CBS) announced that they have received authorization from Health Canada to expand their plasma donation eligibility program, implementing a new behaviour-based screening questionnaire in select cities that will no longer explicitly exclude gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (MSM) and some trans people. The new question asks if in the last three months donors have not had a new sexual partner and if their partner has not had sex with another partner. These new questionnaires are being used only in two donation centres—one in Calgary, and another in London, Ontario.
It’s one more crack in the dam when it comes to MSM blood donations, which were originally banned outright and now require a three-month deferral period. CBS has already indicated that they will be submitting new screening questions to Health Canada’s regulatory arm before the end of the year not only for plasma donation, but also whole blood.
This article was written by Dale Smith and originally posted on Xtramagazine. Please click HERE to read the full article.
