Lessons of the tainted blood crisis of the 1980s must never be forgotten. In both Canada and the US, plasma from paid and unpaid donors is equally safe because of strict protocols at every stage of collection, testing and production. Most of the plasma products distributed in Canada are purchased from the US where payment for plasma donation is very common. For example, in Winnipeg, some plasma donors have been paid for more than 30 years. There are some private clinics in Canada that pay donors for plasma. Neither Canadian Blood Services nor Héma-Québec pay their donors for either blood or plasma. Some provinces prohibit private clinics and companies from paying plasma donors. Provinces and territories decide whether and how plasma is collected in their jurisdictions. Plasma products sold in Canada are manufactured in accordance with strict safety standards, regardless of where the plasma comes from, and whether or not donors were paid.

In Canada, all establishments collecting plasma for plasma products, whether from volunteer or paid donors, are strictly regulated and must comply with the Food and Drugs Act and Blood Regulations. The current reality is that plasma from paid donors is needed to meet Canadian demand for plasma products.

Most developed countries also depend on products made from paid-donor plasma. about 80% of our immune globulin comes from the US. Most of the plasma products distributed by Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec are purchased from US manufacturers and made from US paid-donor plasma, e.g. There is not enough plasma collected in Canada to meet the demand for plasma products. Under strict regulations of the Food and Drugs Act, private companies can also collect plasma for the production of essential plasma products. distribute plasma products to Canadian hospitals.collect plasma for manufacturing into plasma products.In Canada, both Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec: clotting factors, which are used for the treatment of haemophilia as well as other bleeding disorders.immune globulins, which are used to treat or prevent infections or immune disorders and.albumin, which is used to treat fluid loss in burn or trauma patients.Plasma is the starting material used for the manufacturing of life-saving, commercial drugs known as plasma products. This process takes between 1 to 2 hours and is known as plasmapheresis. Plasma donation is the process of collecting a donor's blood, separating the plasma portion of the blood from the blood cells, and then returning the blood cells to the donor. It makes up about 55% of the total volume of an individual's blood.

Plasma is the pale-yellow liquid component of blood that normally holds the blood cells in suspension.

Expert Panel on Immune Globulin Product Supply and Related Impacts in Canada.

Learn more about some of the common misunderstandings related to plasma products in Canada by visiting our Myths and facts - plasma donation webpage. However, there are differences in how they are collected, processed and used in the health system. Canada has one of the safest blood systems in the world, thanks to the strict standards set out in Health Canada's Food and Drugs Act and Blood Regulations for the collection of blood and plasma.īoth blood and plasma products are vital to the health and well-being of Canadians.

Paid to donate blood