International student Rodiyat Alabede, died October 25, after donating plasma at a Grifols locations in Winnipeg

The 22-year-old student from Nigeria was one of two donors who died in the process of donating plasma at a Canadian blood clinic since October

Alabede was at a Grifols collection center when she fainted during the donation process, her heart stopped beating and she was rushed to the hospital but died on the way

The other donor on January 30 died following plasma donation at different Grifols collection center also in Winnipeg

Months later, according to Alabede’s friend, her family have not been given an answer on her cause of death

Rodiyat Alabede, 22, was donating plasma at a Grifols location in Winnipeg, Canada, on October 25, 2025, when she passed out and her heart stopped – six months later the family of the international student is still waiting for an explanation

Two patients have died, four months apart, after donating plasma at different locations of the same Canadian blood clinic. beginning in the last quarter of 2025. 
International student Rodiyat Alabede, 22, and another unidentified person both donated plasma at different Grifols locations in Winnipeg.
Alabede, an international student from Nigeria, was at the Taylor Avenue location on October 25 when she fainted during the donation process.
Her heart stopped beating and she was rushed to the hospital but died on the way.
The other patient died following a donation on January 30. Both were donating plasma, a yellow liquid found in the blood that is necessary for a number of bodily functions.
Alabede’s friend, Mary Ann Chika, who had to identify her at the hospital, revealed that Alabede’s family have not been told her cause of death.
‘We’re all in the dark. It would give us a lot of closure to know what actually happened,’ she said. 
The deaths of both donors were reported to Health Canada within 72 hours as required by law.
However, the health agency which reportedly, is still reviewing the deaths, has stated that they have ‘no reason to believe’ those deaths are related to donating plasma.

The 22-year-old student died donating plasma, the yellow liquid in the blood required for a number of bodily functions

Meanwhile Grifols, the Spanish company that has been operating in Winnipeg since 2022, when it acquired Canadian Plasma Resources also says that, ‘based on the information available at this time, [they] have no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation.’ 
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
During the process of plasmapheresis, blood is removed from the body, usually via a catheter, and passed through a machine that separates the blood cells from the plasma, and returns the cells back to the bloodstream. 
The cells are returned to the patient along with a substitute fluid, (saline or albumin), to replace the removed plasma.

At a separate Grifols location also in Winnipeg, another person died on January 30, after giving plasma. However, Health Canada and Grifols have said neither believe the deaths had any relation to donating plasma

Among other criteria for eligibility to donate plasma, potential donors must have a permanent address within a 62-mile radius of the plasma center, should be between the ages of 17 and 68 and weigh between 110 and 397 pounds.
Furthermore, a long list of medical conditions can block eligibility.
Grifols states that medical examination to determine eligibility is a prerequisite for all donors, prior to being hooked up to a Plasmapheresis machine.
Grifols states on it’s website offers up to $100 CAD per donation, which is permitted up to two times, in a seven-day period. A $50 CAD bonus is offered for every tenth donation made within a six-week period. 
With the least amount paid for plasma donation being $10 CAD for a donations weighing under 180 milliliters. 
Reacting to the two deaths reported to Health Canada, paid plasma could be banned in Manitoba, the province’s health minister said this week.
Health Minister for the province, Uzoma Asagwara, offered the prospect of a ban on paid plasma in Manitoba, after two fatal adverse reactions at Winnipeg collection centers.

Health Minister for the province, Uzoma Asagwara, says banning paid plasma is being considered for Manitoba following reports of two fatal adverse reactions at Winnipeg collection centers

I would say that public safety is our top priority, and so the option of banning paid plasma in Manitoba is an option that is on the table, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said Wednesday. 
The deaths are under review by Health Canada, where a spokesperson has said the agency has not found a link between the deaths and plasma collection, just as Grifols, who operates the Winnipeg centers maintains that there is no reason to believe they are connected.