FabSwingers.com forum: New Rules for Blood Donation in Ireland

By *ofusplus OP Couple
over a year ago

Limerick

Apologies in advance for the long post!

I correlated the main information from the giveblood.ie website. Here goes ...

The questions asked before you give blood changed from the 28th November 2022.

Anyone who wishes to donate blood are assessed on a person-by-person basis, rather than having risks associated with specific demographics applied to their case, as has been done in the past. Traditionally, this has disproportionately impacted gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) as well as trans people.

The most recent research has identified anal sex as a higher risk activity than oral and vaginal sex. The risk of transmitting HIV and other STIs is at least 5 times higher by anal sex than by vaginal sex.

Since 28th November 2022, you are asked whether over the past FOUR months, you have:

• had sex with someone new, or resumed/restarted a previous sexual relationship

• had sex with more than one person

If you answer ‘yes’ to either (or both) questions, you will then be asked if you had anal sex with any of your sexual partners:

• if you have, you will not be eligible to donate for four months

• if you have not had anal sex, you will be able to donate (subject to other eligibility criteria)

You will also be asked whether over the past four months, you have:

• taken part in chemsex. Chemsex is a type of sexual activity where people take certain drugs such as methamphetamine, mephedrone or GHB/GBL to enhance their sexual experiences and let them have sex for longer or with more people. The use of alcohol, cannabis, Viagra or other medication for erectile dysfunction is not chemsex.

If you answer ‘yes’, you will not be eligible to give blood for four months after the last time you took part in chemsex. If you injected or were injected with Chemsex drugs, you cannot donate.

If you are considering donating, you can take the blood donor eligibility quiz here: https://www.giveblood.ie/can-i-give-blood/blood-eligibility-quiz1/

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By *hilaboutMan
over a year ago

kilkenny

Very informative tks ..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I never realised they got rid of the rule that if you lived in the UK for 12 months of more from 1980 to 1996 you couldn't donate in Ireland.

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By *ofusplus OP Couple
over a year ago

Limerick

"I never realised they got rid of the rule that if you lived in the UK for 12 months of more from 1980 to 1996 you couldn't donate in Ireland."

Yes, that ruled me out for many years as well

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By *otownkid1967Man
over a year ago

Portlaoise

"I never realised they got rid of the rule that if you lived in the UK for 12 months of more from 1980 to 1996 you couldn't donate in Ireland.

Yes, that ruled me out for many years as well

So I'm able to donate now OP??

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By * la carteCouple
over a year ago

Dublin

I wonder how many people answer those questions truthfully?

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

"I wonder how many people answer those questions truthfully?

I did and can't donate

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By * la carteCouple
over a year ago

Dublin

"I wonder how many people answer those questions truthfully?

I did and can't donate "

I'm sure there are plenty who don't though!

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By *ub23Man
over a year ago

wandering

I think all blood donated is tested for everything anyway

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By *ofusplus OP Couple
over a year ago

Limerick

"I never realised they got rid of the rule that if you lived in the UK for 12 months of more from 1980 to 1996 you couldn't donate in Ireland.

Yes, that ruled me out for many years as well

So I'm able to donate now OP??"

I can't answer that. Follow the link at the bottom of the opening post to check

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By *ofusplus OP Couple
over a year ago

Limerick

"I wonder how many people answer those questions truthfully?

I did and can't donate "

I was turned away three times in a row. It's frustrating when there are grey areas but I would never lie.

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By *ofusplus OP Couple
over a year ago

Limerick

"I think all blood donated is tested for everything anyway"

The whole reason for the four months time period is that you could become infected shortly before donating and the tests wouldn't pick it up. There's reasoning behind all of their rules.

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By *ubal1Man
over a year ago

Newry Down

"I think all blood donated is tested for everything anyway"

Blood is tested, but I do not think it is tested for 'everything'; although blood donors are obviously not paid for their blood, to test every donation for everything would make the system unviable.

I suspect it is done on a statistical basis; the biggest risks are tested.

The Hepatitis C scandal very badly damaged the reputation of the system as did the imported clotting factor debacle.

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