In October, Canadian Blood Services’ OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network changed its health assessment policy to allow men who have had sex with men (MSM) within the past five years to take the first step toward stem cell donation and join the Network. Currently in Canada, there are many challenges in meeting the stem cell needs of ethnically diverse patients. This policy change allows OneMatch to open the registration process to a greater number of individuals willing to enrol as potential donors.

This change in health assessment criteria was put in place in order to better align with recommendations put forward by Health Canada in 2008 in its revised Safety of Human Cells, Tissues and Organs for Transplantation (CTO) Regulations. As their name implies, these CTO Regulations apply only to cells (including stem cells), tissues and organs and do not apply to the transfusion of blood or blood products.

The adapted CTO Regulations clarify that the management of donor suitability rests with the “source establishment”— in other words, the transplant hospital. The role of OneMatch is to manage the network of potential stem cell donors on behalf of these transplant hospitals. This includes the recruitment and registration of potential stem cell donors, as well as the management of their confirmatory typing (when the potential donor undergoes further testing) and health assessment information, which is passed on to the transplant hospital.

Under the CTO Regulations, through a process known as exceptional distribution, potentially higher risk cells may be released for transfusion only if deemed in the best interests of the patient. This would be determined through a consultative approach between the transplant physician, patient and patient’s family.

As a matter of course, Canadian Blood Services continuously reviews its screening policies. Discussion regarding this change to the OneMatch Network involved members of Canada’s stem cell research and scientific community and other influential external stakeholders on all sides of the MSM topic. All Canadian Blood Services policy and process modifications are made with appropriate stakeholder consultation and with the safety of the patient always a priority.

This policy change does not impact the processes and policies for existing blood, platelet and plasma collection (transfusable products) — these products are governed by their own sets of policies, procedures and regulations. The current MSM policy for transfusable products will remain an indefinite deferral for the risk criteria of MSM.