New blood donation changes come into effect today allowing gay and bisexual men who have sex with men to donate at an earlier stage.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) says the new eligibility criteria mean that a man whose last sexual contact with another man was more than four months ago will be able to donate, if he meets the other donor selection criteria.
The previous deferral period was 12 months.
In another change, the deferral of any person who takes pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP or PEP), taken to reduce the risk of contracting HIV, is also reduced to four months, instead of 12 months, according to Dr Tor Hervig, IBTS Medical and Scientific Director.
He said that the IBTS will closely monitor the effects of these changes to ensure that blood safety is maintained.
Today's changes are an interim measure.
Later this year, the IBTS will introduce an individualised risk assessment of donors' sexual behaviours, similar to the system introduced by the UK blood services in June 2021.
Recent shortages of certain types of blood has meant the IBTS has been importing blood from the NHS blood service.
Around 3,000 blood donors are needed each week in Ireland. Just 3% of the eligible population give blood.
HIV Ireland has welcomed the implementation of planned changes to the criteria for blood donations, but says more work is needed.
Stephen O'Hare, Executive Director at HIV Ireland, said the changes bring Ireland more in line with practices in neighbouring jurisdictions.
The organisation wants to see work commence on the introduction of an individualised risk assessment which the IBTS has agreed to implement by the end of 2022.
Mr O'Hare said this will create a fairer system which will ensure donors, regardless of their sexuality, are being asked questions that successfully identify higher risk.
HIV Ireland expressed disappointment that the IBTS decided not to implement a recommendation to remove oral sex as a reason for deferring gay and bisexual men, as agreed by an expert review group.
