Trans individuals

Eligibility criteria for trans individuals

Screening criteria for trans donors will change by Sept. 30, 2022, when new sexual behaviour-based screening criteria are implemented for all donors.  

Currently, trans, non-binary, two-spirit and gender diverse donors are asked questions based on their anatomical sex (genitalia) at the time of donation. Donors who have not had lower genital gender affirming surgery are screened using questions based on the sex assigned to them at birth. Donors who have had lower genital gender affirming surgery are screened using questions based on their gender. Asking donors about the sex assigned to them at birth and whether they have had lower genital gender affirming surgery may cause pain, and we’ve worked with trans people to make changes to this screening process.  

When the new criteria are implemented by Sept. 30, 2022, trans donors will no longer be asked whether they’ve had lower genital gender-affirming surgery.  Trans donors will be able to register in their gender. Due to limitations of the binary registration computer software system, however, non-binary donors will still need to register in a binary (male/female) gender. We know that this is not ideal for non-binary and other donors whose gender is not male or female. We are working in consultation with trans community members as well as the registration software owner to include genders outside the male/female binary and improve the screening process. 

Donors who have had lower genital gender affirming surgery

Donors who have had lower genital gender affirming surgery are currently deferred from donating blood for three months after their surgery. After three months, donors are screened in their gender. 

Our criteria are changing by Sept. 30, 2022 to ask gender-neutral sexual behavior-based questions. When that happens, we will no longer ask trans donors about gender-affirming surgery.  

For more information and to see if you are eligible to donate, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to speak directly with a registered nurse. Your call is private, and your personal information is protected. 

Donors who have not had lower genital gender affirming surgery 

Donors who have not had lower genital gender affirming surgery are currently asked screening questions based on the sex assigned to them at birth. For example, trans women who have not had lower gender affirming surgery, will be asked if they have had sex with a man in the last three months. If the response is yes, they will be deferred for three months after their last sexual contact with a man.  

Our criteria are changing by Sept. 30, 2022 to ask gender-neutral sexual behavior-based questions. When that happens, we will no longer ask trans donors about the sex assigned to them at birth.

For more information and to see if you are eligible to donate, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to speak directly with a registered nurse. Your call is private, and your personal information is protected.