Concern that question about 'gender assigned at birth' could pose risk to blood donations

"Therefore, transgender donors must be identified so that an appropriate assessment is made of these levels, and their eligibility to donate is determined accordingly," Ms Carroll MacNeill said. "Certain blood components - such as blood for intrauterine transfusion - are only made from donations taken from cis-gender male donors, as female donors who have had a pregnancy may have antibodies in their blood that could cause potential harm to the foetus."

"It has led to accusations that the blood service could be at risk of losing donors because of what one TD called "an ideological question". Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín was told by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill that the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) received 41 complaints over the last five years about the question: "Is your current gender different from that assigned to you at birth?""

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service asks donors whether their current gender differs from the gender assigned at birth to identify transgender donors for medical assessment. Haemoglobin levels and blood volume differ by gender and must be assessed to determine donor eligibility. Certain blood components for intrauterine transfusion are made only from donations from cis-gender male donors because pregnancy can produce antibodies harmful to a foetus. The IBTS recorded 41 complaints over five years about the question. Some donors who complained continue to donate, while at least one interested constituent chose not to give blood.

Read at Irish Independent