Red Cross Starts Implementing New FDA Screening Guidelines for Blood Donations

The American Red Cross on Aug. 7 started implementing new screening guidelines offered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prospective blood donors.

A person donates blood in Los Angeles on Jan. 13, 2022. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

The American Red Cross on Aug. 7 started implementing new screening guidelines offered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prospective blood donors.

While all people who have tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are still barred from donating blood, other people will be allowed to donate even if they’ve engaged in anal sex in the past three months, provided that they didn’t do so with a new partner, according to the screening guidelines.