Principle:

Use of anti-retroviral therapy as prophylaxis for pre- or post-exposure (PrP or PEP) HIV prophylaxis may lower the viral load below detectable levels.

Policy:

1. Defer any donor taking PrP or PEP anti-retroviral ART medications for three (3) months since the last dose.
2. Donors taking ART drugs as treatment for HIV infection are still indefinitely deferred.
3. Donor information pamphlets should be updated to include this new deferral.

References:

1. AABB Association Bulletin #4, The Impact on Blood Safety of Effective Antiretroviral Medications for HIV Prevention and Treatment, 5/5/20
2. DHQ Medical Deferral List, Version 2.1, AABB, Bethesda, MD, USA, June 2020