DAYTON, Ohio – Nico Schrenk from West Carrollton circled Sept. 1 on his calendar to make his first blood donation in 10 years, and not because it was the day the former Community Blood Center was announcing its new name “Solvita.”
Nico is a 37-year-old married gay man who had 23 lifetime donations when he stopped donating in 2013. He was eager to return to donating under the new donor eligibility screening implemented by Solvita Blood Center on Sept. 1 that eliminates restrictions based on sexual orientation.
“It was huge,” said Nico as he returned to his routine donation of platelets, the blood-clotting component in blood that is crucial for the treatment of cancer patients.
“I almost started crying. Being a healthy person and being able to donate. I’m a doer, I want to be on the front line, in the trenches. It was a relief.
“I’m a native Daytonian. Helping people is in my blood. Here we go!”
Recently updated U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines removes decades-old restrictions that made it challenging for gay and bisexual men to donate.
Nico began donating platelets in 2011 while working at CBC as an apheresis program specialist.
“I’ve been out since my last donation, since 2013,” said Nico. “I stopped donating then because of the regulation and it devastated me. I’m O positive and I usually do double platelets. Seeing the impact blood donation has on the community, seeing special donations and matches for a person, it was very devasting to me.”
Eligibility for donating is now assessed by individual risk factors. Under the new individual assessment guidelines every Solvita donor, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, is asked the same questions designed to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV.
All are asked if they have had new and/or multiple sexual partners in the past three months. If either answer is yes, the behavior is considered higher risk, and they are then asked about the type of sexual contact.
“It’s an accepting question,” said Nico, who now works at Equitas Health Dayton Medical Center helping educate and mentor people who are diagnosed with HIV. “HIV is not a discriminating disease,” he said. “No matter if you are gay or straight, it will impact you. The questions now make sense.”
At Solvita all blood donations are required to undergo more than a dozen tests to ensure donations are safe for patients, including HIV, Hepatitis B and C, West Nile, and other infectious diseases.
Learn more and make an appointment to donate with Solvita Blood Center by using the Donor Time app, online at www.DonorTime.com or by calling (937) 461-3220.