According to Health Canada, three individuals in Manitoba have died after donating plasma within the past decade.
This information comes to light following an investigation by CBC News that revealed two of the fatalities were reported to the federal authority just four months apart — one occurring in October 2025 and the other on January 30, 2026.
Health Canada did not disclose the timing of the third fatality.
All facilities that collect plasma are required to inform the federal authority if a donor suffers a serious reaction during the donation process or within 72 hours after.
One of the deceased was identified as 22-year-old Rodiyat Alabede. She passed away on October 25 after visiting the Grifols Plasma Donation Centre on Taylor Avenue for a plasma donation, as reported by her friends.
Her friends stated that medical personnel informed them her heart stopped at the center, and attempts to revive her were unsuccessful.
Details about the other individual who died recently in Winnipeg are scarce, other than the fact that the incident took place in January after a plasma donation at Grifols’ location on Innovation Drive.
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CBC has requested information regarding all fatal adverse reactions from January 1, 2016, to the present.
Dr. Ryan Zarychanski, a hematologist from Manitoba specializing in blood disorders, emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the three deaths reported to Health Canada over the last decade in Manitoba.
“This is concerning, and a detailed investigation is necessary to comprehend what transpired in these cases,” he stated.
Zarychanski noted that fatalities following plasma donations are extremely rare.
“When such uncommon occurrences happen in clusters, it certainly raises questions about the situation. Are procedures being adhered to? Is adequate training taking place? Is there sufficient oversight and donor selection as intended by policy?” Zarychanski remarked.
“We must be cautious before drawing conclusions. However, there is undoubtedly a need to investigate these incidents thoroughly,” he added.
Grifols, a Spanish company known for producing plasma-derived medicines, operates over a dozen plasma collection centers in Canada.
The company stated that it conducted an internal review and, “based on the information currently available, we see no reason to believe there is a connection between the donors’ deaths and plasma donation.”
A Health Canada representative mentioned that the evaluation of the two recent fatalities is ongoing and that no link has been established between plasma collection and these deaths.
After CBC News inquired about the recent fatalities, Grifols updated its policy on its website last week.
The new policy states that starting March 9, a minimum of 48 hours must elapse between consecutive donations.
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According to a Health Canada representative, the policy implemented in 2019 allowed for two donations within a seven-day span, requiring a minimum two-day break between donations.
During a recent inspection, officials discovered instances where plasma was collected twice in under 48 hours.
“Recently, the department has clarified to Grifols that the minimum two-day interval must consist of no less than 48 hours. Grifols has since updated this clarification on its website,” a Health Canada spokesperson stated in an email.
The specific location of the inspection has not been disclosed.