The blood donor regulations are being revised, and the changes are intended to provide greater safety for donors, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday. In future, men will only be allowed to donate two liters of blood per year, women one and a half liters. People who have been in malaria areas will no longer be permanently excluded. For the first time, medical requirements will be set for diverse and intersex people.
Rauch: Blood donation “should be possible for everyone”
The amendment was sent for review on Thursday. “Blood donations should be possible for everyone – no matter who you love or what gender you are,” said Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) in a press release. The donor questionnaires will be adapted to the new requirements in time for the planned entry into force in the autumn.
According to the information, around 3.4 percent of all people in Austria donate blood regularly, thereby making an important contribution to the care of accident victims and during operations. The legal requirements are now to be adapted to the current state of science, it was emphasized. On the recommendation of the Blood Commission, the maximum amounts have been reduced: in future, a maximum of three or four donations per year are permitted, at intervals of at least eight weeks. This means that even frequent donors will not suffer from iron deficiency. Up to now, women have been allowed to donate blood four to five times a year, and men up to six times a year.
New regulation with requirements for third gender
For the first time, medical guidelines are also being set for diverse and intersex people as well as people without a gender specification. Although they were already able to donate blood, the intervals and maximum amounts to be observed were not defined for them. It has now been made clear that the guidelines for the female gender apply to them in principle. If the physical characteristics correspond to the minimum values set for men, the guidelines for the male gender can also be used if desired. The parameters include weight, blood pressure and pulse rate. “The safety of donors is ensured by a medical confirmation of health suitability,” says the Ministry of Health.
People who were born or grew up in malaria-infested areas are no longer permanently excluded. The same applies to people who have visited such areas and who showed symptoms of malaria. They must present a negative NAT test result and a negative antibody test, which were carried out no earlier than six months after departure.
“The new regulation means that more people are now allowed to donate blood, but at the same time donors will be allowed to donate less frequently in the future. It is therefore particularly important that more people come to donate blood on a regular basis and thus save lives,” said Gerry Foitik, Federal Rescue Commander and member of the management board of the Austrian Red Cross responsible for blood issues. The Red Cross relies on regular donations to ensure full supplies. “Blood only lasts 42 days and cannot be produced artificially.”
(Source: APA)
