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'No blood from active gays'
12/01/2006 18:47 - (SA)
JOhannesburg - Sexually active gay men in South Africa have been excluded by the SA National Blood Service from donating blood.
Blood service head Dr Robert Crookes said on Thursday: "A man who has had sex with another man within the last five years, whether oral or anal sex, with or without a condom or other form of protection, is not permitted to donate blood and must please not do so."
He said the service's position was based on international practice and on data in international medical publications that men who had sex with men (MSM) showed increased risk of HIV transmission and other blood infections.
"Even though the blood service tests every blood donation for certain infectious diseases, which can be transmitted to patients by blood transfusion, no test available can detect every infectious one."
Crookes said it was "imperative" for MSM-group males to exclude invitations by the service to donate blood as it placed those who needed transfusions under immense risk of infection or disease.
"To do so (donate blood) endangers the lives of patients who need a blood transfusion as part of their medical treatment."
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