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Poston JN, Andrews J, Arya S, Chou ST, Cohn C, Covington M, Crowe EP, Goel R, Gupta GK, Haspel RL, Hess A, Ipe TS, Jacobson J, Khan J, Murphy M, O'Brien K, Pagano MB, Panigrahi AK, Salazar E, Saifee NH, Stolla M, Zantek ND, Ziman A, Metcalf RA. Current advances in 2024: A critical review of selected topics by the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) Clinical Transfusion Medicine Committee. Transfusion 2024; 64:2019-2028. [PMID: 39087455 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline N Poston
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Jennifer Andrews
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Stella T Chou
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Claudia Cohn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mischa Covington
- Transfusion Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth P Crowe
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruchika Goel
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, Illinois, USA
| | - Gaurav K Gupta
- Transfusion Medicine and Cellular therapy, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Richard L Haspel
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aaron Hess
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Tina S Ipe
- Center for Apheresis and Regenerative Medicine, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Jessica Jacobson
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jenna Khan
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mike Murphy
- NHS Blood and Transplant, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kerry O'Brien
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Monica B Pagano
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anil K Panigrahi
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Eric Salazar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Nabiha H Saifee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Moritz Stolla
- Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicole D Zantek
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alyssa Ziman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ryan A Metcalf
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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2
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Wright I, Gahagan J. Improving gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion in blood and plasma donation policies and programmes in Canada: A qualitative study. Vox Sang 2024; 119:656-663. [PMID: 38616552 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES An increasing number of blood operators around the world, including those in Canada, have removed time-based deferral periods for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and replaced them with sexual behaviour-based questions for all donors. While this marks a significant shift in screening approach, what remains unclear is how members of two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (2S/LGBTQ+) communities view blood operators' initiatives to be more inclusive. As such, this study was conducted to assess the awareness of donor screening changes and other initiatives among members of 2S/LGBTQ+ communities and to explore their recommendations for blood operators' work with these communities. MATERIALS AND METHODS Semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 15) were conducted with 2S/LGBTQ+ people across Canada. Data were analysed using open inductive coding methods. RESULTS Reported here are the key results on recommendations for blood operators. Three themes were identified from the data: (1) the need for increased communications with 2S/LGBTQ+ communities surrounding changes to donor policies and guidelines; (2) the need for trans-inclusive policy and procedures; and (3) the need for culturally responsive and equity-informed staff training at donor centres. CONCLUSION Results suggest that blood operators should consider 2S/LGTBQ+ communities when developing blood and plasma donation policies, screening procedures and staff training. Increased consultation with these communities is desired, and further research specific to the experiences of transgender blood donors is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Wright
- Research Office, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Gahagan
- Research Office, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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3
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Lewin A, Goldman M, Busch MP, Davison K, van de Laar T, Tiberghien P, Shinar E, O'Brien SF, Lambert G, Field S, Hervig T, Tan DHS, Custer B, Drews SJ, Lanteri MC, Klochkov D, Widmer E, Domingue MP, Renaud C, Germain M. End of selection criteria based on sexual orientation: An international symposium on alternatives to donation deferral. Vox Sang 2024; 119:388-401. [PMID: 38270352 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Until recently, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) were deferred from donating blood for 3-12 months since the last male-to-male sexual contact. This MSM deferral has been discontinued by several high-income countries (HIC) that now perform gender-neutral donor selection. MATERIALS AND METHODS An international symposium (held on 20-04-2023) gathered experts from seven HICs to (1) discuss how this paradigm shift might affect the mitigation strategies for transfusion-transmitted infections and (2) address the challenges related to gender-neutral donor selection. RESULTS Most countries employed a similar approach for implementing a gender-neutral donor selection policy: key stakeholders were consulted; the transition was bridged by time-limited deferrals; donor compliance was monitored; and questions or remarks on anal sex and the number and/or type of sexual partners were often added. Many countries have now adopted a gender-neutral approach in which questions on pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been added (or retained, when already in place). Other countries used mitigation strategies, such as plasma quarantine or pathogen reduction technologies for plasma and/or platelets. CONCLUSION The experience with gender-neutral donor selection has been largely positive among the countries covered herein and seems to be acceptable to stakeholders, donors and staff. The post-implementation surveillance data collected so far appear reassuring with regards to safety, although longer observation periods are necessary. The putative risks associated with HIV antiretrovirals should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Lewin
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal and Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mindy Goldman
- Donation Policy and Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael P Busch
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Katy Davison
- NHS Blood and Transplant/UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Epidemiology Unit, UKHSA, London, UK
| | - Thijs van de Laar
- Department of Donor Medicine Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre Tiberghien
- Établissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint Denis, France
- UMR 1098, Inserm, Établissement Français du Sang, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Eilat Shinar
- National Blood Services, Magen David Adom, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gilles Lambert
- Direction régionale de santé publique - Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Stephen Field
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tor Hervig
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darrell H S Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Steven J Drews
- Donation Policy and Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marion C Lanteri
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Scientific Affairs, Creative Testing Solutions, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Denis Klochkov
- Research and Development, CSL Behring, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Marie-Pier Domingue
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal and Québec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Christian Renaud
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal and Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marc Germain
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal and Québec, Quebec, Canada
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Goldman M. MSM and blood donation: shifting to individualized risk assessment. HEMATOLOGY. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY. EDUCATION PROGRAM 2023; 2023:294-298. [PMID: 38066878 PMCID: PMC10727087 DOI: 10.1182/hematology.2023000482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Deferring donors at higher risk for transfusion transmissible infections is an important part of ensuring blood safety. The deferral for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) was implemented in the 1980s in many countries, since they were identified as a high-risk group for AIDS/HIV. With the introduction of increasingly sensitive HIV antibody testing, augmented by nucleic acid testing, the window period for HIV infection-when a donor may be infectious but have negative test results-has shrunk dramatically. In Canada, this has led to progressively shorter deferral periods for gbMSM, decreasing from a permanent deferral for sex with another male since 1977 to a 5-year, 12-month, and eventually 3-month deferral period. These time-based deferrals maintained safety; however, they are seen as stigmatizing by many and still result in the deferral of sexually active gbMSM. More recently, several countries have moved to a donor screening approach based on assessing sexual risk behaviors in all donors. This article outlines research supporting changes in policy, current eligibility screening policies in several countries, and preliminary results postimplementation of new eligibility policies in Canada in September 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mindy Goldman
- Medical Affairs & Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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5
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Lê AS, Labbé AC, Fourmigue A, Dvorakova M, Cox J, Fortin C, Martin I, Grace D, Hart T, Moore D, Lambert G. Mycoplasma genitalium infection among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Montréal, Canada. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2023; 49:477-486. [PMID: 38504874 PMCID: PMC10946590 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v49i1112a03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Background The bacteria Mycoplasma genitalium has been identified as a causative agent of urethritis in men, especially in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM). Canadian clinic-based data have identified a high prevalence of M. genitalium and resistance to antibiotic treatments. This article estimates the prevalence of M. genitalium infections among Montréal gbMSM, explores correlates for M. genitalium infection and estimates the prevalence of mutations associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Methods Engage Cohort Study is a multi-site longitudinal study on sexually active gbMSM, aged 16 years and older, recruited via respondent-driven sampling in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver. Participants completed a questionnaire on behaviour and were tested for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections at each visit. For this sub-study, Montréal participants with a follow-up visit that occurred between November 2018 and November 2019 were included. Results A total of 2,064 samples were provided by 716 participants. Prevalence of M. genitalium infection was 5.7% at rectal and/or urethral sites, 4.0% at rectal site and 2.2% at urethral site. Correlates for M. genitalium infection were younger age and reporting six or more sexual partners in the past six months. Prevalence of macrolide resistance associated mutations (MRAM), quinolone resistance associated mutations (QRAM) and either MRAM or QRAM, was 82%, 29% and 85%, respectively. Conclusion This first population-based study among gbMSM in Canada documents a high prevalence of urethral and rectal M. genitalium infection and high levels of AMR. Our results highlight the importance of access to testing and AMR detection when indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Lê
- Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC
| | - Annie-Claude Labbé
- Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC
| | - Alain Fourmigue
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC
| | - Milada Dvorakova
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC
| | - Joseph Cox
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC
- Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC
| | - Claude Fortin
- Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC
| | - Irene Martin
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | - Daniel Grace
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
| | - Trevor Hart
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON
| | - David Moore
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
| | - Gilles Lambert
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Montréal, QC
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Custer B, Whitaker B, Pollack L, Buccheri R, Bruhn R, Crowder L, Stramer SL, Reik R, Pandey S, Stone M, Di Germanio C, Buchacz K, Eder A, Lu Y, Forshee R, Anderson S, Marks P. HIV risk behavior profiles among men who have sex with men interested in donating blood: Findings from the Assessing Donor Variability and New Concepts in Eligibility study. Transfusion 2023; 63:1872-1884. [PMID: 37642154 PMCID: PMC11284767 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual risk assessment allows donors to be evaluated based on their own behaviors. Study objectives were to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors in men who have sex with men (MSM) and estimate the proportion of the study population who would not be deferred for higher risk HIV sexual behaviors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Cross-sectional survey and biomarker assessment were conducted in eight U.S. cities. Participants were sexually active MSM interested in blood donation aged 18-39 years, assigned male sex at birth. Participants completed surveys during two study visits to define eligibility, and self-reported sexual and HIV prevention behaviors. Blood was drawn at study visit 1 and tested for HIV and the presence of tenofovir, one of the drugs in oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Associations were assessed between HIV infection status or HIV PrEP use and behaviors, including sex partners, new partners, and anal sex. RESULTS A total of 1566 MSM completed the visit 1 questionnaire and blood draw and 1197 completed the visit 2 questionnaire. Among 1562 persons without HIV, 789 (50.4%) were not taking PrEP. Of those not taking PrEP, 66.2% reported one sexual partner or no anal sex and 69% reported no new sexual partners or no anal sex with a new partner in the past 3 months. CONCLUSION The study found that questions were able to identify sexually active, HIV-negative MSM who report lower risk sexual behaviors. About a quarter of enrolled study participants would be potentially eligible blood donors using individual risk assessment questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Barbee Whitaker
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Lance Pollack
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Renata Buccheri
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Roberta Bruhn
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lauren Crowder
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Rockville & Gaithersburg, MD
| | - Susan L. Stramer
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Rockville & Gaithersburg, MD
| | | | | | - Mars Stone
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Clara Di Germanio
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kate Buchacz
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV Research Branch, Division of HIV Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Anne Eder
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Yun Lu
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Richard Forshee
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Steven Anderson
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Peter Marks
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
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7
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Maddox V, Vallely P, Brailsford SR, Harvala H. Virological safety of the UK blood supply in the era of individual risk assessments and HIV PrEP. Transfus Med 2023; 33:372-378. [PMID: 37668150 DOI: 10.1111/tme.12993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
A more individualised donor selection policy was implemented in the UK in 2021, which replaced the previous 3-month deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM). Other blood services have a variety of policies in place to ensure the virological safety of blood components, ranging from an indefinite ban on MSM, to a defined period of exclusion, or to an individualised risk assessment that is not based on gender or sexual orientation. Justification of these policies should be based on scientific evidence including assessment of lengths of virological window periods, infectious disease epidemiology within donor populations and donation screening assay sensitivities. Developments in molecular technology and assays which can detect both antibodies and antigens in the very early stages of infection have significantly reduced the risk in most developed countries. However, the increasing usage of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent acquisition of HIV infection after possible high-risk sexual contact within the UK blood donor population has been recently noted. It has brought with it new diagnostic challenges within blood screening, notably possible non-detection of HIV RNA and serological markers following PrEP use despite potential infectivity. The use of other testing strategies such as detection of HIV DNA and screening for non-declared PrEP usage should be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pamela Vallely
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics Science, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Heli Harvala
- Microbiology Services, NHS Blood and Transplant, London, UK
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8
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Caffrey N, O'Brien SF, Walsh GM, Haw J, Goldman M. Evolving the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men time-based deferral to sexual risk screening for all donors: The contribution of Canadian research programmes. Vox Sang 2023; 118:605-615. [PMID: 37191161 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In Canada, the time deferral for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) to donate blood has gradually decreased. In September 2022, this deferral was replaced with sexual behaviour-based screening for all donors. We investigate how data from targeted research programmes addressed knowledge gaps to support this change. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a scoping review describing the Canadian literature available before the research programmes relating to (1) behavioural indicators of HIV risk and (2) attitudes to blood donation among gbMSM, current donors and the general population. We summarize the targeted research programmes, their outputs and impact to date. RESULTS For question 1, five projects met inclusion criteria. For question 2, three articles met inclusion criteria. Knowledge gaps identified were insufficient evidence of HIV incidence in gbMSM who met other donor eligibility criteria and scant data on opinions and views of blood donation and screening criteria for sexual risk behaviours. The research programmes funded 19 projects at 11 different research sites involving over 100 individual researchers/collaborators resulting in 19 peer-reviewed publications to date. Leveraging existing gbMSM cohorts yielded relevant HIV incidence data to inform safety modelling studies. Findings indicated that sexual behaviour-based screening was acceptable to gbMSM and donors, and donor discomfort around specific questions could be mitigated with clear explanations. CONCLUSION Targeted research programmes filled critical knowledge gaps and informed a change to gender-neutral, sexual behaviour-based screening for all donors. Findings supported successful implementation of these changes with research-informed staff training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niamh Caffrey
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geraldine M Walsh
- Innovation and Portfolio Management, Canadian Blood Services, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jennie Haw
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mindy Goldman
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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9
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Goldman M, Caffrey N, O'Brien SF. Screening for high-risk sexual behavior in Canada. Transfusion 2022; 62:2419-2422. [PMID: 36285751 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mindy Goldman
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Niamh Caffrey
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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