Why are the questions asked during the screening process so personal? Aren’t they discriminatory?
Donor screening procedures are exclusionary—they exclude people who are at risk of diseases transmissible by blood. The criteria that Canadian Blood Services uses to determine the eligibility of blood donors are based on scientific knowledge of risk factors. Screening out people at greater risk of transmitting blood borne infections is necessary to safeguard the people who receive donated blood. All screening measures must meet stringent regulatory requirements and keep pace with the accepted standards of blood services world-wide. While the screening process is lengthy and may seem intrusive, it is absolutely necessary to safeguard the blood supply.
