In America, blood means big business. America’s blood makes up 2.69% of U.S. exports, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Since there is no substitute for human blood, demand can be hard to meet. Over the pandemic, the Red Cross announced its first ever national blood shortage crisis. The shortage prompted the FDA’s 12-month blood donation deferral for men who have sex with men to be shortened to three months time. Advocates want the FDA to follow the science and do away with the ban altogether, following countries like Italy and Spain which have done the same. But outside of the clinic, blood plasma becomes a product.
Why So Many Companies Want U.S. Blood
