Study supports changes to blood donor policy

Findings from a study led by Associate Professor Peter Saxton were instrumental in recent changes announced to blood-donation processes, making them more inclusive.

In late January, the New Zealand Blood Service announced Medsafe had approved its application to introduce individual donor assessment, moving away from a blanket ban that effectively excluded most gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

The HRC-funded Sex and Prevention of Transmission Study (SPOTS) – which is focused on sex between men, HIV prevention and blood donation – found only 13 percent of gay, bisexual, takatāpui and other men who have sex with men were eligible to give blood under incumbent rules.

However, SPOTS investigators estimated that if New Zealand adopted individual donor assessments, as are done in the UK or Canada, the rate would rise to 41 percent.

Importantly, they also found no confirmed cases of undiagnosed HIV among study participants providing dried blood spots.

Delegates at a SPOTS Symposium held in late January heard that findings from the study had reassured decision-makers that a more inclusive policy would lead to both better blood self-sufficiency for New Zealand and be safe for recipients.

Fieldwork for the 2025 SPOTS round is now open at www.spots.org.nz