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Original poster

NHS Blood donating form saying 'gender' not 'sex'

62 replies

VicSynix · 12/05/2019 18:23

I've been a regular blood donor for over 30 years, but recently (since my consciouness was raised by the evil women of Mumsnet) I've become irritated by the fact that the donor form says 'gender' not 'sex'. Surely the NHS, of all places, should recognise how the importance of recording your actual biological sex, not your gender?

I've been tempted to cross it out on the form, and replace it with 'sex', but as I don't want to needlessly antagonise anyone who's about to stick big needles in me, I've instead sent a message via the Blood Doning website asking why they do this.

If there are any other blood donors out there who are also irritated about this, perhaps they could also ask what's going on.

Are there any other instances of the NHS saying 'gender' when they mean 'sex'?

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 12/05/2019 19:17

Additionally re haemoglobin levels

"Haemaglobin levels are set for
both males and females; there is a legal requirement that these must be met before a
donation can be given. Donors who identify themselves as male will be assessed
using the male haemoglobin levels and similarly donors identifying as female must
have sufficiently high haemaglobin levels to meet the female levels"

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 12/05/2019 19:16

^Male sexual partners of transgender women would not fall under the men who have
sex with men deferral policy in their assessment^

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/male_partners_of_transgender_wom

ReganSomerset · 12/05/2019 19:06

There's a question on the form (or used to be at any rate)- are you a man who has in the last twelve months had sex with another man? If that man is identifying as a woman, how do they answer that?

endofthelinefinally · 12/05/2019 19:02

All blood test/lab forms have been changed to gender.
Which is a potential problem for some normal range values.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 12/05/2019 19:01

Self-ID really doesn't work for donating blood — I know a transman who can't donate, because by ticking the "male" box, they need the male haemoglobin levels. The levels would be fine for a female donor though!

It could also be dangerous for transmen if they're called to donate every three months rather than four (having said that, its three months for everybody in Scotland so might not be that big an issue).

Ffsnosexallowed · 12/05/2019 18:56

Surely blood is tested to see if it's rhesus negative or positive? It's not any more dangerous for a man to receive the wrong blood type from a one pregnant women than it is for anyone else? I do agree that the form should ask about sex not gender though, if it's biologically important that they know.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 12/05/2019 18:52

Blood donation goes by self-id, not sex.

Original poster
VicSynix · 12/05/2019 18:51

socksknitter that's really interesting - I thought there was something like that but wasn't sure. Which is why I can't understand why they're saying 'gender'.

milkgoatee I'm giving blood tomorrow so will look out for the different coloured liquid.

OP posts:
MilkGoatee · 12/05/2019 18:39

As far as I'm aware, they do this initial haemoglobin test in these wee pots of coloured liquid. Blue and green colour - and that colour distinction is for men and women. Reckon that will be affected. (If the 'sink' test isn't clear, they need to test with the machine for a definitive answer.)

SmellsLikeAdultSpirit · 12/05/2019 18:36

That is bloody dangerous

SocksKnitter · 12/05/2019 18:35

This is actually really important as there is a known rare adverse reaction if a man is given a blood donation from a woman who has ever been pregnant. I can't find the original article I read, but this link refers to the risk.

www.blood.co.uk/why-give-blood/blood-types/ab-negative-blood-type/

loveyouradvice · 12/05/2019 18:34

good for you - really important

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