Canadian plasma clinics halt donations after two donor deaths
Grifols, a Spanish company operating 17 plasma donation clinics in Canada, has temporarily paused collections after the deaths of two donors and regulatory findings of unsafe practices.
A Spanish healthcare company has suspended plasma collections at its Canadian clinics following the deaths of two donors and a government investigation into potential safety breaches. Grifols, which operates 17 plasma donation sites across Canada and is the country's only private provider of such services, said it had notified Health Canada about the voluntary pause on Wednesday.
The move came the same day the federal health regulator issued a formal notice of non-compliance, citing failures to follow blood regulations. Health Canada had earlier reported that the two donors died after giving plasma in October 2025 and January 2026, both in Manitoba. The individuals experienced distress during the procedure. One of the deceased was identified by friends as Rodiyat Alabede, a 22-year-old international student who donated in Winnipeg in late October.
Patient advocates have raised concerns about the screening process. Kat Lanteigne, a safe-blood campaigner representing Alabede's family, alleged that clinic staff collected plasma without proper training in safe extraction methods. An autopsy concluded Alabede died of cardiac arrest shortly after donating, and Health Canada said it found no connection to the donation. However, advocates have called for a new inquest, citing discrepancies between the autopsy and the regulator's medical summary.
Inspection reports from May, reviewed by The Guardian, revealed multiple deficiencies at Grifols clinics, including inadequate staff training, poor record-keeping, failure to correct previous issues, and collection continuing even when alarms sounded. The company's reporting was described as 'incomplete' and 'inaccurate'.
Before the pause, donors could give plasma twice a week and receive up to C$100 per visit. Plasma is a pale yellow protein-rich liquid that helps transport blood cells and platelets, prevents excessive bleeding, and is used in treatments for conditions such as haemophilia, liver disease, and cancer. The collection process, using an apheresis machine, takes about 90 minutes, compared with around 10 minutes for a standard blood donation.
In Canada, individual provinces decide whether to allow paid plasma clinics. British Columbia and Quebec prohibit the practice, while Manitoba, where the deaths occurred, does not.
Grifols said the pause was proactive and voluntary, in response to what it called 'unfounded attention', and that it would work with authorities to address concerns. The company has denied any link between the deaths and donation. Health Canada specifically identified deficiencies at the Taylor Avenue location in Winnipeg, where officials said they were cooperating to allow operations to resume. Grifols reassured the public that the pause would not affect the safety or security of Canada's blood and plasma supply.
