Crossposted from Nature’s news blog

Britain has overturned its ban on blood donations from gay men, provided that they have not had sex in the last 12 months.

The issue of blood donation from ‘men who have sex with men’ (MSM) has been a fraught one since most countries implemented a blanket ban after the rise of AIDS. America is mulling ending its ban on blood donations from gay males, while other countries have implemented their own policies for taking donations after a certain length of time since the donor’s last sexual encounter.

Now a review of the science by the UK’s Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs has concluded that the risk of an infection being transmitted via donated blood will not be increased by allowing MSM who have not engaged in oral or anal sex in the last 12 months to donate. This period of time in necessary due to the risk of Hepatitis B, which can be infectious for a long period even when at undetectable levels.

“The evidence does not support a permanent ban,” said Deirdre Kelly, a hepatologist and member of the advisory committee.

Continue reading on Nature’s news blog.