Tragedy struck at a Canadian blood clinic as two individuals have passed away following plasma donations.
Among the deceased is 22-year-old Rodiyat Alabede, an international student from Nigeria, who, along with another unnamed individual, donated plasma at separate Grifols clinics in Winnipeg.
Alabede had visited the Taylor Avenue clinic on October 25, where she fainted during the donation process. Despite immediate medical attention, her heart stopped, and she tragically died en route to the hospital.
The second individual succumbed after a similar donation process on January 30. Both were engaged in donating plasma, a crucial component of blood responsible for several vital functions in the body.
Mary Ann Chika, a friend of Alabede, had the heartbreaking task of identifying her at the hospital. She shared with CBC News that Alabede’s family is still seeking answers regarding the cause of her untimely death.
Alabede’s friend, Mary Ann Chika, was the one to identify her at the hospital. She told CBC that Alabede’s family have not been given an answer to what caused her death.
‘We’re all in the dark. It would give us a lot of closure to know what actually happened,’ she told the outlet.
The untimely deaths were reported to Health Canada within 72 hours as required by law.
Rodiyat Alabede, 22, was donating plasma at a Grifols location in Winnipeg, Canada, in October when she passed out and her heart stopped
At a separate Grifols location in January, another person died after giving plasma
The health agency is still reviewing the deaths, but said there is ‘no reason to believe’ the incidents are related to donating plasma, CBC reported.
Grifols echoed a similar statement, telling the Daily Mail that ‘based on the information available at this time, we have no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation.’
Neither organization provided additional context into either patient’s health history or reasons that could have led to their deaths.
The Spanish-based company offers up to $100 CAD per donation, which can be given up to two times in a seven-day period, its website said.
It also offers a $50 CAD bonus for every tenth donation made in a six-week period.
The smallest amount paid for a plasma donation is $10 CAD for any donation weighing in under 180 milliliters.
To be eligible to donate, the company requires one to be between the ages of 17 and 68, weigh between 110 and 397 pounds, and have a permanent address within a 62-mile radius of the plasma center, among other things.
A long list of medical conditions can eliminate eligibility for patients, including Crohn’s disease, Type 1 diabetes and certain types of cancer among others.
Health Canada and Grifols have said neither believe the deaths had any relation to donating plasma, the yellow liquid in the blood required for a number of bodily functions
Patients are also forced to undergo an examination to determine eligibility before being hooked up to a plasmapheresis machine, which separates the plasma from the red blood cells and returns the cells back to the bloodstream.
Plasma helps carry red blood cells to the lungs, maintain blood pressure, deliver nutrients throughout the body, and remove waste products to the liver and kidneys, among other things.
Grifols told the Daily Mail: ‘The health and safety of our donors is our ultimate priority.
‘Every donor undergoes an extensive health history evaluation and physical examination before being deemed eligible to donate. We strive to operate under strict operational procedures at the highest standard.’
The company has been operating in Winnipeg since 2022, when it acquired Canadian Plasma Resources.
