Proposed FDA Guidance on Blood Donations

The long-awaited change is near! Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is reviewing the new proposal from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that could ease restrictions on gay and bisexual men as blood donors. The FDA’s proposal to move to an assessment of sexual behavior of individuals, regardless of gender, will maintain the safety of our nation’s blood supply while treating all donors with the fairness, equality, and respect they deserve.

The proposed draft guidance is only the first step in a lengthy process of welcoming some new individuals as blood donors. The entire process will take time, including the public comment period, publication of the final guidance, and blood center implementation of the changes. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is committed to moving this change along as quickly as the process allows. We understand many people have waited a very long time for this change, and we look forward to welcoming new donors in as soon as possible!

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is the sole provider of blood and blood components 24/7 to more than 170 hospitals and health care facilities in a 26-county Texas Gulf Coast region. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is a nonprofit organization and is accredited by the Food and Drug Administration.