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To protect you and the research staff during study visits, we will use all mandated health protection procedures, including wearing face masks and social distancing if required.
About
Three of the nation’s largest blood centers – Vitalant, OneBlood, and the American Red Cross – are conducting a pilot study funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that could lead to a significant change to blood donor eligibility for men who have sex with men.
The study is called the ADVANCE Study, which stands for Assessing Donor Variability And New Concepts in Eligibility.
The study is focused on evaluating alternatives to the blood donor deferral policy known as men who have sex with men (MSM). Currently, the FDA recommends that men who have had sex with another man be deferred from donating blood for three months after the most recent sexual contact with another man.
The purpose of the study is to determine whether a different donor deferral policy can be used at blood centers nationwide while maintaining the safety of the blood supply. For this to be possible, a change would need to be made to the donor history questionnaire, and this study is the first step in assessing the safety of a change.
The donor history questionnaire consists of a series of questions that all potential blood donors answer before donating. The questions are written to assess risk factors that could indicate possible infection with a transfusion transmissible infection, including HIV.
The ADVANCE study is a first step in providing data that will help the FDA determine if a donor history questionnaire based on individual risk would be as effective as time-based deferral, in reducing the risk of HIV in the blood supply.
If the scientific evidence supports the use of the different questions it could mean men who have sex with men who present to donate would be assessed based upon their own individual risk for HIV infection and not according to when their last sexual contact with another man occurred. The ADVANCE study is groundbreaking because it’s the first time a study is being conducted that could result in individual risk assessment for men who have sex with men to donate blood.
To gather the necessary data the blood centers will partner with LGBTQ+ Centers in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Orlando, New Orleans/Baton Rouge, Miami, Memphis, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. The study will enroll a total of 2,000 gay and bisexual men (250 – 300 from each area) who meet the study eligibility criteria.
Eligibility
The study will include gay and bisexual men who are interested in donating blood, and who have had sex with at least one other man in the three months before joining in the study.
Potential participants will complete a short survey to assess if they meet the study inclusion criteria. If the potential participants are qualified, staff conducting the study will enroll the participants into the study and obtain informed consent.
Eligible participants will also need to be 18 to 39 years old and live in one of the eight communities where the pilot study is being done.
Participants will be financially compensated for their time.
What to Expect
- 1. Potential participants will complete a short survey to determine if they meet eligibility requirements.
- 2. Eligible participants will need to provide informed consent.
- 3. Participants will then complete the ADVANCE Study questionnaire.
- 4. Participants will also have a blood sample collected. This blood sample will be tested in a research laboratory for HIV, as well as for anti-retroviral drugs found in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
- 5. A few weeks after enrolling in the study, participants will be asked to return to the location where they enrolled to learn of their test results. Depending upon the test results, participants will be asked to complete an additional questionnaire.
Locations & Appointments
Appointments are required to enroll in the ADVANCE study. Please click on the location near you to schedule your appointment. The study is being started in different cities over the next several months. If the link for your location is not active, the study has not yet started in your city.
If you want to find out more about the study please contact the research staff at the nearest enrollment site.
You can email or call the number listed for each location.
Schedule Visit: English & español
San Francisco, Oakland & Palo Alto
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
- Vitalant Donation Center - 270 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118
- Oakland Red Cross - 6230 Claremont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618
- Stanford Blood Center - 3373 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Community Partners: Project MORE
Schedule Visit
Pasadena, Culver City & Hollywood
Location: Greater Los Angeles Area
- Pasadena Red Cross - 2471 E Walnut Pasadena, CA 91107
- Culver City Red Cross - 5359 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230
- LA LGBT Center - 1625 Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
Community Partners: LA LGBT Center, City of Hope, Pride in the City
Schedule Visit
Memphis
Location: Memphis
- The Corner - 806 Cooper St., Memphis, TN 38104
- Vitalant Office - 1040 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN. 38104
Community Partners: The Corner, Friends for Life, OUT Memphis
Schedule Visit
New Orleans & Baton Rouge
Location: Greater New Orleans & Baton Rouge
- CrescentCare NOLA (Tuesday-Friday) - 1631 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117
- New Orleans LGBT Center (Saturdays) - 2727 S Broad St Suite 101, New Orleans, LA, 70125
- Vitalant Blood Center - 8234 One Calais Avenue Baton Rouge, LA
Community Partners: CrescentCare, LGBT Community Center of New Orleans, PFLAG, Baton Rouge Pride
Schedule Visit
Atlanta
Location: Atlanta
Community Partners: Atlanta Pride
Schedule Visit: English & Español
Orlando
Location: Orlando
Community Partners: The Center
Schedule Visit: English & Español
Fort Lauderdale & Miami
Location: South Florida
- OneBlood Donor Center - 3000 W Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
- Pridelines - 6360 NE 4th Court, Miami, FL 33138
- Pridelines at The LGBT Visitors Center - 1130 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Community Partners: Pridelines, SunServe, The Pride Center
Schedule Visit
Washington, D.C.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Community Partners: Whitman Walker Institute
FAQs
The following are a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the ADVANCE Study.
What does ADVANCE stand for?
Assessing Donor Variability And New Concepts in Eligibility.
What is the ultimate goal of ADVANCE Study?
What is the current donor deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM)?
What will the pilot study examine?
Other studies have been done regarding the policy known as men who have sex with men (MSM) so what makes this study different?
Other studies have been done regarding the blood donor deferral policy known as men who have sex with men (MSM). What makes this study different?
What type of additional questions will be included in ADVANCE Study?
What is the role of the LGBTQ+ Centers in the pilot study?
When are results expected and how will they be communicated for this study?
How did the LGBTQ+ Centers get involved in the ADVANCE Study?
Why are Vitalant, OneBlood and the American Red Cross leading this study?
Why can’t gay and bisexual men in other cities participate?
When do you plan to expand to additional cities?
Why are you limiting the number of participants?
Why is the study limited to individuals between the ages of 18 and 39?
What is the role of the FDA in blood donor eligibility?
What is the history of the blood donor deferral policy known as men who have sex with men (MSM)?
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