FDA recommends lifting lifetime ban on gay blood donors

The Food and Drug Administration of the United States recommended Tuesday that the lifting of the ban on blood donations the lives of gays men.

The decision of the Agency about a month after the Department of Human Services Advisory Committee on health and recommends the same with a 16-2 vote.

The new recommendation is a one-year suspension for a last man had sex with another man.

Or had a man who has sex with another man since 1977 - - for 31 years gays and bisexual men were subject to a lifetime ban on blood donation on the fear of the spread of HIV. While all blood donors tested HIV can not be detected by current tests for 11 days, after the virus is contracted.

Critics of the ban say it spreads a false stigmatization of gays men living with HIV. The American Red Cross, the American Medical Association and the American Association of Blood Banks all said that the ban was medically and scientifically necessary.

"This recommended change is consistent with the recommendation of an advisory committee of independent experts, HHS Advisory Committee on Blood and tissue safety and availability, and better on the vesting period with other men and women at increased risk of HIV infection, "the FDA said in a press release on Tuesday.

The FDA said it intends to present draft guidelines recommends a policy change in the next year to spend.

The American Red Cross said it welcomes the policy change.

"The American Red Cross believes that all potential blood donors should be consistent with fairness, equality and respect, and that the history of accurate and treated medically assisted donor criteria donors are critical to the continued safety of blood transfusions, "a statement from the organization.

"The decision of the FDA to take action to recommend was a change in the blood donor deferral for men who have sex with men carried over the lifetime of a year of delay is consistent with the declaration of the Red Cross that the postponement of the current life is unjustified. "

The Red Cross said its current lifetime ban on gay blood donors remain in force until the new issued and implemented guidelines. The organization did not give a timetable for when it expects to change the policy.