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Rodiyat Alabede, a 22-year-old university student, began experiencing cardiac problems during a donation at a Grifols site on Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg and later died.Shannon VanRaes/The Globe and Mail
Health Canada says it has suspended the licence of the Grifols plasma collection site in Winnipeg where a young donor experienced heart problems that led to her death.
Grifols is the only major commercial collector in Canada of plasma, a component of blood used to make some types of medicine. It operates under a partnership with Canadian Blood Services.
Grifols has been the subject of public scrutiny in recent months following the deaths of two donors and a number of critical inspections conducted by Health Canada.
Explainer: What we know so far about Grifols’s plasma pause and Health Canada’s safety concerns
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The company voluntarily stopped collecting plasma in Canada on Aug. 14, saying the pause would be temporary as it worked through improvements to address Health Canada’s concerns.
Rodiyat Alabede, a 22-year-old university student, began experiencing cardiac problems during a donation at a Grifols site on Taylor Avenue last October and was pronounced dead at hospital about an hour later.
Health Canada told media there was “no linkage” between Ms. Alabede’s death and the donation activity. Her family disputes this and has asked for an investigation.
Health Canada said Wednesday it had suspended the licence of the Taylor Avenue location, further complicating Grifols’ plans to reopen it.
More to come