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Background: Individual risk assessment allows donors to be evaluated based on their own behaviors. Study objectives were to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors in men who have sex with men (MSM) and estimate the proportion of the study population who would not be deferred for higher risk HIV sexual behaviors. Study Design and Methods: Cross‐sectional survey and biomarker assessment were conducted in eight U.S. cities. Participants were sexually active MSM interested in blood donation aged 18–39 years, assigned male sex at birth. Participants completed surveys during two study visits to define eligibility, and self‐reported sexual and HIV prevention behaviors. Blood was drawn at study visit 1 and tested for HIV and the presence of tenofovir, one of the drugs in oral HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Associations were assessed between HIV infection status or HIV PrEP use and behaviors, including sex partners, new partners, and anal sex. Results: A total of 1566 MSM completed the visit 1 questionnaire and blood draw and 1197 completed the visit 2 questionnaire. Among 1562 persons without HIV, 789 (50.4%) were not taking PrEP. Of those not taking PrEP, 66.2% reported one sexual partner or no anal sex and 69% reported no new sexual partners or no anal sex with a new partner in the past 3 months. Conclusion: The study found that questions were able to identify sexually active, HIV‐negative MSM who report lower risk sexual behaviors. About a quarter of enrolled study participants would be potentially eligible blood donors using individual risk assessment questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses the articles within the issue which focuses on the importance of decision making in addressing the challenges of infectious diseases.

PLTs stored at 22°C have the potential for bacterial contamination, a problem that could be reduced by 4°C storage. Nevertheless, PLTs stored at 4°C exhibit a significantly reduced life span. This study was performed to determine whether treatment of PLTs with thrombopoietin or cytochalasin B plus ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether) N,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA)-AM could prevent exponential loss of PLTs stored at 4°C. Autologous baboon PLTs were stored at 22 or 4°C. The 4°C stored PLTs were treated with 1.5 ng per mL thrombopoietin, with 1 µmol per L cytochalasin B, and 80 µmol per L EGTA-AM (cyto-EGTA) or not treated and labeled with 111In-oxine to study their in vivo recovery and life span. PLT function was assessed by correction of an aspirin-induced prolonged bleeding time. Aggregation responses and morphology were also assessed. PLTs stored at 22°C had normal in vivo recovery and linear survival. PLTs stored at 4°C, whether or not they were treated with thrombopoietin, had normal recovery and exponential survival. Aggregation of cyto-EGTA-treated PLTs was similar for PLTs stored at 4°C and fresh PLTs, but decreased in PLTs stored at 22°C for 5 days. The addition of cyto-EGTA to PLTs before 4°C storage inhibited morphologic changes that occurred in PLTs stored at 22°C and cold-induced PLT clumping, but did not prevent exponential disappearance of the PLTs. Addition of thrombopoietin or cyto-chalasin B and EGTA-AM to PLTs before 4°C storage did not prevent exponential loss of PLTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]