Staring March 2022, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) will reduce the time that gay and bisexual men have to wait to give blood after having sexual contact with other men.
Currently, men who have sex with other men (MSM) have to wait for over a year since having sexual contact with another man before they can donate blood. But with the change in policy, they will be allowed to give blood four months after having sexual contact with another man.
Obviously, this is also only if they meet the other donor selection criteria.
The IBTS used to have a lifelong deferral for MSM. This was eventually changed, particularly after a serious shortage of blood in Ireland due to the pandemic.
