Ok, maybe I'm being a bit dim here, but could someone please explain to me why gay men can't donate blood?

[yorkshirepudding]

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it's because a gay man's blood has glitter in it

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I'm not allowed to give blood because I've had sex with someone that's been sexually active in Africa (very recently ), plus I've also been sexually active myself in Africa - and that's despite the fact I've since had 3 children and had the HIV test done with my bloods for each pg - all coming back fine!

It's just a risk thing though. Of course there will be millions of gay men who would be fine to donate but statistically they are at a higher risk and so it's ost cost effective to exclude them entirely. I had a baby in April, I'm sure I'd have been fine t give blood after a few months but can't until after 9 months - it'll just be a cost / risk assessment thing again.
However, when they keep talking about the shortage of blood you'd think it would be worth considering each case individually.
PMSL at the glitter comment

TBH I don't know for sure.

I do know that the first tests made available tested for the presence of antibodies to the HIV rather than the virus particles themselves.

Now they might be testing for the virus itself, I don't know. But even if that is the case there will be a lag period between first being infected , and producing enough virus particles to show positive from the test (the test will have a minimim sensitivity level, I would assume). There is a tiny, but nevertheless possible risk of that blood infecting someone.

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i beleive the window period between getting infected and it showing in your system is between 3 - 6 months so you could test clear but then test positive several months later!

i would be concerned about the risk of vCJD as that lies dormant for years and there could be so many carriers out there and that is a horrid way to go, at least with HIV there are ARVs that can prolong life to a degree.

Yeah, but I bet there would have to be a huge restructure to consider each case individually. Bet it will happen though.
In America, don't you go for a fitness MOT as part of your health insurance, regularly? They could do something like that here and include tests for suitability to donate (including lifestyle questions etc). Actually, you could just donate then and there.
Or have I made that up from watching too much Friends?

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bethoo and mb, I don't understand, so does that mean there is still a risk of receiving infected blood? (from someone who donated straight after becoming infected) Or do they not use it for a few months and screen it before use?
Sorry if I'm just misunderstanding your posts.

I think my idea is a good one and with the way the NHS seems to be going....
Shall I write to Gordon Brown and the Health Minister (I am very to admit I haven't got a clue who it is) and suggest it?

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No you're right kama but it will be a statistical population thing
As a gay man you are more likely to have had anal sex than a straight man or woman
They must love gay women!! Hope they get sent straight to the head of the queue

There is a small risk of infection, which they try to reduce still further by excluding all individuals who have sex with groups of people known to have higher rates of infection and/ or taking part in practices which might increase the risk of infection, such as tattooing etc.

They cannot keep the blood and test it later, because the biology of the immune system doesn't work like that!

kama, that makes it sound like I think you're a gay man

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right, I didn't know that, thanks
I've received blood in the past i think

ELF, before the test of the HIV became available lesbians in the US would preferntially donate for gay men who needed a transfusion, it was nicknamed the 'Blood sister system'

It is all about relative risk.

so martianbishop, why don't they just say 'you may not give blood if there is any possibility that you have been in contact with the HIV virus'? that would cover all bases without stigmatising gay men. sorry, but I can't see that it's anything but homophobic.

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Zazette, because not everyone will know the risks and how it's transmitted.
Plus some people will exclude themselves if they have ever used a public toilet.

Elfpolar- i do not know, i suppose unless it is used straight away then yes, i suppose that is why they keep certain groups out of donation maybe. blood is always in short supply as it has a very short shelf life and if not used within a certain time is disposed of. there was a case several years ago of heamophiliacs who were using Factor F (something like that anyway!) and one contracted Hep C and HIV from it.