A groundbreaking move tomorrow sees Lifeblood, Australiaâs national blood and plasma service, update its eligibility criteria, enabling gay, bisexual, and trans men who have sex with men (GbMSM) to donate plasma immediately, without undergoing the previous three-month celibacy requirement.
From Monday 14 July 2025, PrEP users and GbMSM meeting standard health criteria can donate plasma with no wait time. Lifeblood ensures this pivotal policy shift maintains full safety standards, backed by extensive scientific modelling. The change is expected to add 24,000 new donors and 95,000 extra plasma donations per yearâa game-changer for patients relying on this critical resource.
𩸠Whatâs Changing?
- Plasma donations: Immediate eligibility for all PrEP users and gay/bisexual men.
- Blood and platelet donations:
- All donors, regardless of gender or sexuality, will be asked uniform questions about sexual activity.
- Those in monogamous relationships of 6+ months can donate at any time.
- Donors with new or multiple partners may donate after a three-month period if they haven’t had anal sex.
- The previous rule singling out men who have sex with men is set to disappear next year, pending updates to the national questionnaire.
đ§ââď¸ Behind the Decision
Dr Jo Pink, Lifebloodâs Chief Medical Officer, says these changes reflect the evolving landscape of modern HIV prevention and medical science. She emphasised balancing patient safety with inclusivity, explaining that further rule updates are planned once the six-month trial period is complete, and once federal and state systems are ready to implement gender-neutral questionnaires.
Dr Pink stressed: âThis is a significant milestone in safely reducing wait times and making it easier for LGBTQIA+ people to donate. The old rules helped ensure safety in the past, but they also caused stigma. This is a very positive turning point for both Lifeblood and the community.â
