Temporary pause in paid plasma collection at Grifols' Canadian clinics 'a reasonable step': cardiologist

There are 'a lot of people that really rely' on money they get from donating at private clinic, donor says

The temporary shutdown of plasma donations at all Canadian clinics run by for-profit company Grifols came as a surprise to some people at a Winnipeg location.

Grifols said it will pause plasma collection at all of its Canadian locations, blaming "unfounded attention" following the deaths of two people in the past year after they donated plasma at clinics in Winnipeg.

The pause will go into effect Friday, the multinational company said in a statement Thursday.

People exiting the Taylor Avenue location on Thursday told CBC News there was no indication inside that donations were about to be suspended.

"Everything was the same," Tyler Ducharme said. "There was no mention of anything being cancelled or anything like that."

On Friday morning, there was a sign on the Taylor Avenue location's front door, informing visitors of the temporary shutdown.

Private clinic Grifols says it's pausing all plasma collection in Canada

Grifols said it informed Health Canada of its decision Wednesday, the same day the federal agency said the company was issued a non-compliance rating at the Taylor Avenue location.

Grifols said it will work with the government and Canadian Blood Services during the pause, with the hope to resume operations "as soon as it's practicable."

Ducharme said he and his wife have been going to the Taylor Grifols location twice a week without any issues.

Not being able to sell their plasma anymore might be a blow to their vacation fund, but it won't have a big impact on the rest of their lives, he said.

"I know there's a lot of people that really rely on it. We're not those people, but … it wouldn't change things for us at all."

Health Canada has said neither of the Winnipeg deaths was linked to the plasma donation process, but it has also documented issues with some of the company's procedures.

Mathew MacMillan, who also spoke to CBC News outside the Taylor Avenue clinic on Thursday, said he's been visiting twice a week for more than a year.

Despite what he's heard in the news in recent months, he hasn't had safety concerns since he started going to Grifols.

While the money helps with expenses, it won't be a big hardship if he has to go without it, he said.

"It would kinda hurt. I mean, you get used to that $400, $500 [a month]," he said. "But I'll adjust, if need be."

There were no signs inside the clinic Thursday saying donations were about to be suspended, he said.

A Winnipeg cardiologist said the temporary pause is "a reasonable step" and a good opportunity to make the donation process safer.

"I don't want people to come away from this thinking that plasma donation is dangerous in all cases, but hopefully there's some deficiencies that can be corrected here," Dr. Justin Cloutier said Friday.

He also hopes the pause can help "reinforce and restore some of the confidence in the general public that Health Canada exists to protect donors and other people from these sorts of problems."

Donating plasma is safe for the vast majority of people, but there needs to be procedures in place to identify people with heart conditions that may put them at higher risk of complications, Cloutier said.

"The difference between regular blood donation and plasma donation is there's a lot more volume exchange that occurs, so you're taking out and putting back in several litres of fluid in volume, which can put a unique stress on the heart."

He suggests an extensive questionnaire and staff trained to ask the appropriate questions.

"I don't advocate that everyone get checked out," he said. "If you're totally asymptomatic and feeling well, it's not like everyone needs a cardiac assessment, but I think a good questionnaire should identify those who might be at higher risk."

Cloutier doesn't think a pause in donations will impact the availability of plasma in Manitoba hospitals, he said.

Plasma donations are important for the development of many therapeutics and medications, but the plasma collected at these clinics is "not the sort of plasma that you're going to get transfusions in the hospital," he said.

With files from Mike Arsenault and Cory Funk