Health Canada has concluded its investigation into the deaths of two individuals who donated plasma in Winnipeg, stating that the deaths were not linked to the donation process. The federal health regulator confirmed that there was no evidence of equipment malfunction during the donation process, as reported by Health Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson.
The assessment conducted by Health Canada considered various factors such as the timing of events, cause of death, medical history, and incidents during the plasma collection. This investigation was initiated following two adverse fatal reactions reported in Winnipeg, one in October of the previous year and another on January 30, 2026.
Johnson mentioned that any inquiries regarding the specific cause of death should be directed to the province’s chief medical examiner. The plasma donation process is governed by strict regulatory requirements under the federal government’s Blood Regulations, including the assessment of donor eligibility.
One of the deceased individuals, Rodiyat Alabede, passed away on October 25, 2025, after collapsing during a plasma donation appointment at the Grifols Plasma Donation Centre. The second death, which occurred in January at a different location, has less publicly available information.
The deaths garnered international attention, prompting Manitoba’s Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara to consider banning paid plasma donations in the province. Health Canada recently announced new terms and conditions for all Grifols plasma collection centers, including enhanced procedures and staffing requirements.
While the Grifols location on Innovation Drive operates under a separate license with its quality management system, additional conditions were imposed on all 16 collection centers across Canada due to recurrent deficiencies. Health Canada emphasized that these conditions will remain until Grifols demonstrates sustained compliance with blood regulations.
Minister Asagwara stated that the province will carefully review Health Canada’s findings and determine further actions, emphasizing the priority of donor safety. Grifols, a Spanish company specializing in plasma medicines, has numerous plasma collection centers in Canada, all regulated by Health Canada.
The province’s chief medical examiner has not provided comments yet. Johnson noted that inspections conducted at both locations post-incident revealed several non-compliant issues, which are currently under investigation.