Héma-Québec, the blood provider for the Canadian province of Québec, officially introduced individual risk assessment to determine donor eligibility on Sunday. The change to donor eligibility criteria – approved by Health Canada in September – will allow more men who have sex with men (MSM) to donate blood without a deferral period.
Under the new donor eligibility process, Héma-Québec will ask all donors about sexual behavior and pregnancy history, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Those who report having a new partner within the past 3 months, or multiple partners, will be asked additional questions. Previously, MSM were required to wait three months from their most recent sexual contact with another man and meet all other donor eligibility criteria to be eligible to donate.
