Canadian Blood Services says donor death not linked to plasma donation a day earlier

HALIFAX — Canadian Blood Services has confirmed a donor died a day after giving plasma at one of its centres this fall, but the organization says the death was not linked to the donation.

The non-profit organization declined to say where and exactly when the person died, citing privacy concerns for their family, but they confirmed the donor was a volunteer at the donation centre.

The Ottawa-based organization issued a statement Tuesday saying its medical professionals reviewed the person’s donation records and assessed their last donation before having a conversation with their immediate family.

The statement says the family told the organization that medical providers had determined the death was the result of natural causes.

The organization says its review was shared with Health Canada, which advised that no follow-up was required.

Canadian Blood Services and private blood collection businesses are required by law to report to Health Canada any time a donor dies within 72 hours of making a donation.

Plasma donations in Canada have faced intense scrutiny since March, when Health Canada confirmed it was investigating the deaths of two people in Winnipeg who donated plasma at collection centres run by the Grifols, a company that pays donors.

Health Canada found no link between the deaths and the collection process, and Grifols said that at no point was the safety of donors and patients compromised.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2026.

The Canadian Press