NZBS one step closer to introducing individualised donor assessments

To be attributed to Dr Sarah Morley, Chief Medical Officer:

"I am pleased that Medsafe has now approved our application to shift towards an individualised assessment when determining eligible blood and plasma donors. This evidence-based assessment will ask the same questions of every donor – irrespective of gender, sex or sexual orientation – when assessing potential risk for sexually transmitted infections, while maintaining the highest level of blood safety.

"Achieving Medsafe approval means NZBS is one step closer to introducing individualised donor assessments. However, before we implement this change, our testing regime needs to be updated to align with global best practice. These additional testing requirements will complement the individualised risk assessment change, and will help ensure the safety of our plasma products.

"We know this change has been a long time coming, so we want to thank people for their continued patience.

"At this stage, we anticipate that individualised donor assessments will be introduced in early 2026. We are committed to change, and we look forward to soon welcoming more gay, bisexual, takatāpui and other men who have sex with men into our whānau of lifesavers.”

You can read more about NZBS' work in this area here.

For any media queries on this update, please contact media@nzblood.co.nz or call 027 844 0073.