KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — MEDIC Regional Blood Center said it will start using a new questionnaire to screen donors on Monday, Nov. 6.
The new questionnaire follows recommended guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that were released in May. The new guidelines are designed to give gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships the chance to donate blood without abstaining from sex.
The FDA's new guidelines eased past restrictions that effectively blocked many members of the LGBTQ+ community from donating blood, originally implemented as a way to protect the blood supply from HIV. Instead, all potential donors — regardless of sexual orientation, sex or gender — will be screened with a new questionnaire that evaluates their individual risks for HIV based on sexual behavior, recent partners and other factors.
MEDIC's new questionnaire also includes changes for travel-related deferrals and hepatitis deferrals.
“We’ve been working on the change to the DHQ since January and those changes will open eligibility to additional donors while maintaining the safety of the blood products. These changes come directly before our Orange and Blue competition and during a time when donations will wane due to the holidays," said Kristy Altman in a release, a spokesperson for the blood center.
The blood center is preparing to compete against the Kentucky Blood Center for the 38th Orange and Blue competition. During the competition, the two blood centers try to collect as many donations as possible.
It will last from Nov. 13 through Nov. 17, and donors will get a $10 e-gift card, coupons for different restaurants, a ticket for the annual Fantasy of Trees event and more. A schedule of when MEDIC Regional Blood Center will collect donations for the competition is available below.
Donors can also schedule appointments to donate online, or by calling 865-521-2656.
