News story

Donor selection criteria review

The advisory committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) completed a review of the evidence base for the blood donor selection criteria relating to sexual behaviour in May 2011.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 9 September 2011

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

As a result, they recommended to UK Health Ministers a change to the current donor deferral for men who have had sex with men. Men whose last relevant sexual contact was more than 12 months ago will now be able to donate, subject to meeting the other donor selection criteria.

Read SaBTo’s donor selection criteria review.

Published 9 September 2011