Evolving eligibility criteria for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men

In April 2022, Health Canada approved our request to remove eligibility criteria applicable to men who have sex with men and to instead focus on sexual behaviour associated with higher risk of infection, regardless of donor profile.

This change, which supports both safety and inclusion, will be implemented later this year. It means we will ask all donors, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, if they’ve had new or multiple sexual partners in the past three months.

We will spend the coming months preparing to implement the new criteria, including system and process updates, as well as in robust training for our employees. We look forward to welcoming new donors no later than Sept. 30, 2022, when the new sexual behaviour-based screening criteria are in place.

For more information: Evolving eligibility criteria for gay, bisexual and other men (blood.ca)