From Monday 20 April 2026, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is updating some of its blood and platelet donation rules.
What’s changing?
Lifeblood is changing how it assesses a donor’s risk of exposure to new infections by making the pre-donation questionnaire gender-neutral.
All donors will now be asked the same questions about their sexual activity, regardless of gender.
This means more people can safely donate blood and platelets, including gay and bisexual men in long-term monogamous relationships, if they meet all other eligibility criteria.
Because even the most advanced testing is unable to pick up the early stage of an infectious disease, there will still be some people who can’t donate blood. This is necessary to maintain the safety of Australia’s blood supply.
Is this safe?
The evidence shows this change can be made safely. The updates are supported by the latest research, risk modelling and community feedback. They have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), with endorsement from the National Blood Authority and state and federal governments.
There are no changes to how blood donations are tested. Every donation will continue to be screened using highly sensitive testing for hepatitis B, C and HIV.
Want to know more?
For more information about these changes, visit the Lifeblood website.