AABB, America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and the American Red Cross (ARC) issued a new joint statement applauding the changes recommended in the Food and Drug Administration’s final guidance released on May 11.
In the joint statement, the organizations reiterated their support for individual donor assessments (IDA) to determine blood donor eligibility and commended FDA’s science-driven process that led to these changes. The organizations noted that this change represents a move to make blood donation more inclusive and said that research should continue to evaluate potential additional changes to blood donor eligibility. “The blood community is proud to mark this progress towards a more inclusive blood donation process and is committed to working with the FDA and other stakeholders to ensure that deferral changes continue to be examined moving forward,” the organizations wrote in the statement.
The blood community is now in the process of implementing the changes recommended in the FDA’s final guidance, a process that is likely to take several months. “Blood collection organizations across the country are working diligently to complete the complex transition process to the safe and effective implementation of the new individual donor assessment eligibility criteria provided in FDA’s final guidance and look forward to welcoming new and returning donors as soon as possible,” the organizations wrote.
