This article was originally published in the January 2023 edition of Héma-Québec’s Magazine. All issues of the Magazine are available here.

A new, more inclusive questionnaire

As of December 4, 2022, eligibility for all types of donations is now based on an individualized assessment of risk behaviours, rather than membership to a group. This change means that all people who want to donate must complete the same gender-neutral questionnaire, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

A great step forward, without compromising safety

Implemented gradually since last fall, the new approach means that anyone who comes to a collection site will be asked whether they have had a new sexual partner or multiple sexual partners in the past three months. Any man or woman who has had only one partner during this period may make a donation, if the person qualifies under the other criteria. In all other cases, additional questions will be asked.

Changes for all people donating blood products

Those who are used to donating will see some changes in the mandatory questionnaire they must complete before each donation. The questions will be the same whether you are a man or a woman. This may come as a surprise in some cases, particularly with respect to history of pregnancy.

“This is a significant and important change in qualification, as the assessment of risk in terms of sexual relations will be done on an individual basis rather than on membership in a group considered to be at risk. This means, for example, that people who identify with sexual diversity, including men who have sex with men, will be able to donate blood. It also means that some heterosexuals may no longer qualify for blood donation. Our assessments and the results observed in the United Kingdom, which has been applying a similar approach since June 2021, lead us to believe that the new measure will have no negative impact on supply. Furthermore, this whole process is based on scientific evidence and on maintaining a high safety level of blood products for transfusion.”, Dr. Marc Germain, Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Innovation.

Gradual implementation

The gender-neutral questionnaire was deployed in Québec in two stages. It was first implemented for plasma donations on October 2, 2022, following a favourable decision by Health Canada in March 2022. Its use was subsequently extended to all types of donations on December 4, 2022.