The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is to introduce a new "fairer" system of risk assessment for donor eligibility from 28 November.
The change in relation to sexual history and risk means assessing donors on a person-by-person basis, rather than applying risks associated with specific groups which have previously excluded some potential donors, the IBTS said.
Dr Tor Hervig, IBTS Medical and Scientific Director, said: "This is a fairer way to assess donor risk.
"Using a donor’s individual behaviours to determine if that person is eligible to donate makes the process fairer for all donors and more inclusive, while maintaining the safety of the blood supply.
"Every donor will be asked the same questions about their sexual activity, regardless of the donor’s gender or sexual orientation, or those of his/her partner."
The changes to the way the IBTS assesses the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections incorporate recommendations made by the Social Behaviours Review Group in 2021.
It was set up to review the evidence base for donor eligibility in Ireland relating to behaviours, including sexual behaviours that may increase the risk of acquiring specific blood-borne infections.
"The SBRG identified several factors associated with a higher risk of acquiring blood-borne infection," Dr Hervig said.
"These factors include: engaging in chemsex, having anal sex with a new partner or more than one partner and having a recent sexually transmitted infection.
"They recommended that questions about these factors should be added to the donor health and lifestyle questionnaires that would be answered by all donors.
"The IBTS will monitor changes in the rates of viral infections and syphilis in blood donors and any reported transfusion-transmitted infections in patients who have received blood.
"A compliance study will also be undertaken to determine if donors are complying with the new donor eligibility criteria."
Read more: New criteria for gay and bisexual men to donate blood in effect
