Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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2237. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale for the permanent ban on donating blood for persons who previously contracted gonorrhoea and subsequently recovered following treatment; if she is aware of the United Kingdom’s deferral policy in this regard (details supplied); if the State’s current lifetime ban will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19832/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) keep all deferral policies under active review, in light of scientific evidence, which encompasses emerging infections and international evidence, to ensure the ongoing safety of blood and the products derived from it. A decision has been made by the IBTS to amend the deferral period for a donor who has had gonorrhoea to 4 months after completing treatment. The deferral period will be 4 months after completing treatment (rather than 3 months as in the United Kingdom) as this is in keeping with other 4 month deferrals that are mandated by the Commission Directive 2004/33/EC. It is envisaged that this change will be implemented before the end of the year.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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2238. To ask the Minister for Health the basis for the four-month blood donation deferral policy in respect of pre-exposure prophylaxis; if this policy will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19833/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Blood Transfusion Service keep all deferral policies under active review, in light of scientific evidence, which encompasses emerging infections and international evidence, to ensure the ongoing safety of blood and the products derived from it. The usage of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may interfere with testing for HIV by delaying seroconversion, giving unclear results in a positive donor or affecting the ability of tests to detect low levels of HIV. For these reasons it is important that people who take PrEP do not donate for 4 months thereafter.