The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers and health care providers that directed blood donations requested for certain donor characteristics (e.g., vaccination status, gender, sexual orientation, religion) lack scientific support and to be cautious about websites that offer memberships for delivery of blood and blood components from individuals who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19.    

Summary of the Issue

FDA is aware that some blood establishments and hospitals have received requests from patients who need a blood transfusion and wish to receive directed donations only from personally chosen relatives, friends, or other individuals with certain characteristics (e.g., specific gender, sexual orientation, vaccination status, or religion). Such directed blood donations lack scientific support.   

There is no evidence that directed donation provides safer blood and blood components for transfusion. All blood donors must be found eligible to donate blood for others under FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 630) and all donations intended for transfusion [...]

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized recommendations for assessing blood donor eligibility using a set of individual risk-based questions to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV. Read More….

https://www.hhs.gov/blog/2023/01/11/giving-blood-saves-lives.html

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2800275

https://www.aabb.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/resources/individual-risk-assessment-dhq-example-model-using-canadas-eligibility-criteria.pdf

https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=290316