The United Kingdom’s rules on gay men giving blood are to be reconsidered.
The BBC reports that Public Health Minister Jane Ellison says there will be a review. “Making sure that the blood supply is safe is an absolute priority,” she said.
“Donor deferral for men who have sex with men was changed from lifetime to 12 months in 2011 but four years later it is time to look again at the question.
“Public Health England has just undertaken an anonymous survey of donors and I am pleased to say that SaBTO – the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs – will review the issue in 2016.”
Ms Ellison said that the blood service “doesn’t discriminate on sexual orientation.”
Gay and bisexual men are still banned for life from donating blood in the U.S.
