Canadian plasma clinics pause collections after deaths of two donors
Grifols, which runs private chain of clinics, to temporarily stop taking donations after new government investigation A chain of private plasma donation clinics in Canada has said it is pausing collections after the deaths of two donors and a new government investigation into potential unsafe practices. Grifols, a Spanish healthcare company which runs 17 clinics in Canada and is the country’s…
After two donors died following plasma donations in Canada, Grifols, a Spanish healthcare company, has temporarily halted collection operations. The company, which operates 17 private plasma donation clinics in the country, informed Health Canada of its decision on Wednesday. Health Canada had previously issued a formal notice of non-compliance due to the clinics’ failure to adhere to blood regulations.
The two unfortunate deaths occurred in October 2025 and January 2026 in Manitoba, the province where the donors were located. Both individuals experienced distress during the donation process. One of the donors, 22-year-old Rodiyat Alabede, an international student and aspiring social worker, died of cardiac arrest shortly after donating plasma in Winnipeg on 25 October. Friends of Alabede claim he was inadequately screened before the donation.
Patient advocates have raised concerns about the screening process, alleging that staff members were not trained correctly in plasma extraction. Kat Lanteigne, a safe blood campaigner representing Alabede’s family, pointed out that "staff were taking plasma from donors who did not know how to extract plasma in a safe manner." Despite Health Canada’s findings that there is "no link" between Alabede’s death and plasma donation, patient advocates have called for a new inquest into her death, citing "significant medical discrepancies" between the autopsy report and a medical summary drafted by Health Canada.
Grifols has denied that the deaths were connected to plasma donation. The company paused collection "proactively and voluntarily" due to what it deemed "unfounded attention." The pause will allow Grifols to collaborate with Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services. Health Canada reported various deficiencies at the Taylor Avenue Grifols location in Winnipeg during its inspection in May, including inadequate staff training, failures in standard operating procedures, poor record-keeping, and inaccurate reporting.
The company paid its donors up to C$100 (£55) for each donation, with the plasma donation process taking about 90 minutes.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
