My brother can’t donate because he had meningitis and encephalitis. His daughter can’t because she had mononucleosis which caused hepatitis. My father couldn’t because contracted malaria during WWII and also had a bleeding disorder, not Hemophilia. My nephew’s wife can’t donate because she lived in Europe for more than 5 years (in Germany and the UK – military bases) prior to 1997.
I donate blood regularly and have donated platelets because my blood tests negative for CMV negative – cytomegaloviruses (which in the herpes family and includes chickenpox, cold sores, and infectious mononucleosis) which makes my blood and platelets very desirable for infants, but have been deferred twice because my BP was too high.
The thing is that yes, the blood is tested for certain diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Syphilis, Chagas, Zika and West Nile. But the questionnaire you have to answer is pretty much on the honor system. As a woman I’m asked questions like have I ever had sex with a man who has had sex with another man, or with someone who has HIV/AIDS or anyone who has been and IV drug abuser or has hepatitis, have I ever had sex with someone for money or had sex with someone who had sex with someone for money. Also if I’ve gotten a tattoo or any type of piercing in the last 6 months, or am I pregnant. And then there are the travel questions.
I certainly hope that anyone who wants to donate blood, does it for the right reason and is honest on answering the questions. But aside from testing for the things they test for, they are depending on you to be honest.
IMO if a homosexual man has been 100% celibate for more than a year and can answer all the other questions honestly, I don’t see a problem with it. But honesty is the key but that applies to everyone who donates.
Understand that this group has been redefining reality for decades. For them "monogamy" means outside partners "with permission" or "inclusion." Don't bet against them redefining "celibacy" for themselves as meaning they didn't swallow.
Also depends on how good the test screen as the HIV drugs surpress it so well now it doesn’t always show up. There are a host of illnesses that prevent donations of more than just blood.
Neither could my dad from WW2 Malaria he fought under MacArthur.
I can’t donate either I’m Hypothyroid.
Strange you added CMV I lost a child to that, his dad brought the virus back from Nam in my third trimester and of course I caught it, I don’t test positive for it though, Bryan lived only 33 days.