CHICAGO — The American Osteopathic Association’s House of Delegates approved a policy today calling for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to modify its eligible blood donor criteria by allowing men who have had sex with other men to donate blood.

Currently the FDA bans these individuals from donating blood due to concerns of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Testing methods have improved since the FDA first created its policy, including methods of testing that will yield positive results within seven days after infection. Additionally, all donated blood is tested for blood-borne pathogens, including HIV.

“While the FDA’s policy banning men who have had sex with other men from donating blood made sense when testing was not available for HIV, that isn’t the case today,” says Tyler C. Cymet, DO, an AOA board-certified family physician. “With the screening of all blood for infectious diseases, there is almost no risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion. Therefore, it makes sense to provide these potential donors the opportunity to donate blood.”

Last month the American Medical Association also voted to recommend that the FDA lift its ban and allow men who have sex with men to donate blood.