From supplier of blood to expert in biological products of human origin
Héma-Québec today
2024
Branding consolidation under the name Héma-Québec
Héma-Québec consolidated its branding under a single unified identity and discontinued the use of its secondary brand names (GLOBULE, PLASMAVIE and La Collecte). This change was designed to more efficiently fulfill the needs of the province’s healthcare system by simplifying the donor experience, enhancing the visibility of donor locations and clarifying Héma-Québec’s role. All centres were now called Héma-Québec Donation Centres. The organization seized the opportunity to update its logo and clearly signal to the public that it was no longer solely a blood product distributor.
2023
25th anniversary of Héma-Québec
Since 1998, we’ve been here for life. Today, thousands of Quebecers can keep celebrating their birthdays year after year, all thanks to our donors, volunteers and dedicated team.
2022
New gender-neutral eligibility questionnaire for blood, platelet and plasma donations
Starting in the late 1980s, men who have sex with men were banned from donating blood products due to the higher prevalence of HIV among this group compared to the general population. Over the years, with better screening tests and evidence available, Héma-Québec received Health Canada’s approval to lift this criterion. In fall 2022, Héma-Québec introduced gender-neutral questionnaires for blood product donations: every potential donor is now asked the same eligibility questions, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
2021
New sole human tissue distributor mandate
Twenty years after Héma-Québec began collecting and preparing human tissue, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux made the organization solely responsible for supplying human tissue to the entire health care network. The organization had been supplying just over half of these products, with the rest coming from international suppliers. To take on its new role, Héma-Québec implemented an optimized purchasing system and a centralized register for product tracing.
2020
First COVID-19 seroprevalence study
Did you know that Héma-Québec systematically collects and tests a sample of all the blood products it collects? In 2020, from the very first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization made an addition to the standard set of tests performed on these samples. Introduced as part of a large-scale study, this additional test made it possible to estimate the proportion of the Québec population that had contracted the SARS-CoV2 virus behind the disease. This made it possible to track changes in the epidemiological situation and provide critical information to public health authorities to manage the pandemic, as blood donors are representative of the general population.
2018
New mandate to manage SIIATH
Since May 2018, Héma-Québec has been in charge of operational management of the Système d’information intégré sur les activités transfusionnelles et d’hémovigilance (SIIATH) for the entire health care network. This software solution plays a critical role in managing blood product inventory, from reception at the hospital to transfusion. It also ensures that all the transfusion activities of Québec’s blood banks are traceable. Since July 2021, Héma-Québec has also been responsible for technical and application support for the Transfusion Summary (TS) platform. Used by hospital blood banks, this online application provides users’ transfusion history and facilitates information sharing between facilities across the province.
2016
First plasma donation campaign
In 2006, the first ads featuring well-known figures sporting the iconic cut-off sleeve were shown to the public, but it wasn’t until 10 years later, in 2016, that Héma-Québec first ran ads with a yellow cut-off sleeve. Why yellow? Yellow is the colour of plasma, one of the main components of blood, and the campaign encouraged people to choose this type of donation. Plasma is essential to produce drug products that save lives every day!
2014
Birth of Héma-Québec’s Public Mothers’ Milk Bank
Premature babies are at risk of developing serious bowel disease, which can be fatal. Using milk from the Public Mothers’ Milk Bank reduces the risk of very premature babies developing this type of disease by up to three times. Since 2014, Héma-Québec has managed this bank, which gives mothers who produce extra milk the chance to help those who can’t feed their babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy!
2013
Revision of the Act respecting Héma-Québec: Mandate extended to biological products of human origin
It’s no surprise that the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Héma-Québec is blood! However, the list of products the organization collects and distributes has expanded since it was founded. Héma-Québec’s mandate was officially extended in 2013, making it the supplier of all biological products of human origin in Québec. This paved the way for the creation of the Public Mothers’ Milk Bank the following year and the consolidation of plasma collection activities. In a similar development, Héma-Québec’s Stem Cell Donor Registry also secured full autonomy.
Creation of the Mobile Blood Drive Regional Centre
In the early 2010s, more than a third of mobile blood drives in the greater Montréal area took place on the South Shore. Having Montréal as a base was therefore an operational and financial challenge. For this reason, in 2013, Héma-Québec created the Mobile Blood Drive Regional Centre, which provides the South Shore with a point of departure for staff and with equipment storage. This reorganization reduced travel time to blood drive locations and improved staff’s work-life balance!
Opening of the first plasma donation centre
With the need for drug products produced from plasma donations constantly growing, Héma-Québec must constantly reinvent itself to attain its objective of increasing its plasma supply. With this in mind, in December 2013, it opened its very first PLASMAVIE plasma donation centre in Trois-Rivières. Plasma is collected through apheresis, a technique that involves collecting only the blood components needed and returning the others to the donor. Today, there are a total of twelve permanent Héma-Québec centres across the province, all known as Héma-Québec Donation Centres.
2011
Creation of the Compensation plan for victims of a Héma-Québec product
2009
Grande Mention award at the Grand Prix québécois de la qualité
Héma-Québec has received many awards and accolades over 25 years, but the Grande Mention received at the 2009 Grand Prix québécois de la qualité certainly stands out. Presented annually by the premier of Québec to the most outstanding businesses and organizations, the award acknowledges that Héma-Québec applies the best management practices to every aspect of its activities and achieves remarkable results. Héma-Québec’s thorough approach also earned it the trust of 9 out of 10 people, according to a survey conducted in the province in 2010. This was a major step forward compared to when it was founded in 1998, when only 38% of the population expressed confidence in the blood collection and distribution system.
Michel Thérien becomes the first Canada to reach 1,000 donations
In fall 2009, Michel Thérien became the country’s most prolific donor of blood products by rolling up his sleeve for the thousandth time—this time to donate plasma. All 1,000 of his donations were made at the Sainte-Foy donation centre. How does he explain such remarkable dedication? “My main motivation is all the sick kids out there. I just can’t accept that children are suffering when they should be playing and enjoying life. As a donor, I have the power to make a big difference in patients’ lives, and what a priceless opportunity that is. I invite Quebecers to make the same difference, one donation at a time.” His generosity knowing no bounds, he went on to reach 1,500 donations in 2022!
2008
Founding of the Reference and Stem Cell Laboratory
In 2008, the name “Hospital Services” was changed to “Reference and Stem Cell Laboratory.” These reference labs provide specialized testing services for Héma-Québec and hospital teams. From finding a large number of blood donors to help people with sickle-cell anemia to tracking down the only person who can help a patient with a rare blood type or who needs a stem cell transplant, the lab team steps up to the plate every time, driven by their motto: there’s a life behind each request.
2006
Creation of the Association of Blood Donation Volunteers
Héma-Québec relies on its dedicated volunteers, who play an essential role in accomplishing its mission! Created in September 1998 shortly after Héma-Québec was founded, the Association of Blood Donation Volunteers—also known as ABDV—was the first group of its kind in North America. It is active across Québec, with 13 regional divisions. You can find its members at information booths, raising awareness and encouraging Quebecers to share their most valuable asset: their health.
Founding of Héma-Québec
With the passing of the Act respecting Héma-Québec, on September 28, 1998, Héma-Québec began its work as a supplier of blood products and plasma-derived drug products.
2005
Launch of the first GLOBULE mobile blood donation unit
Launched on May 1, 2005, mobile blood donation units are a cross between a donation centre and a mobile blood drive! These 13-metre vehicles come equipped with a registration desk, five donation beds, a worktable and a snack area—everything Héma-Québec needs to make donors’ lives easier! The units are used in corporate offices, industrial parks, shopping centres and megamalls that do not have the space to hold a traditional mobile blood drive.
2004
Birth of Québec’s Public Cord Blood Bank
Ten years before Québec’s Stem Cell Donor Registry became fully independent, Héma-Québec was already carving out a place in the field. In 2004, the Public Cord Blood Bank was created, allowing mothers to register to donate their babies’ umbilical cord blood during childbirth. Blood from the placenta is extremely rich in stem cells, which can make a huge difference in treating over 80 serious illnesses, like leukemia and aplastic anemia. By donating this blood, mothers can share the gift of life twice over!
Opening of the new Héma-Québec building on the Université Laval campus
On September 29, 2004, Héma-Québec opened its new building on the Université Laval campus in Sainte-Foy. The new facilities, which supply hospital blood banks in Québec City and eastern Québec, have a total area of 6,200 square metres spread over three storeys. In addition to multiple offices, the building also houses a call centre, laboratories and human biological product banks. It is also home to the research and development team and the human tissue team. Altogether, it employs several hundred people!
2001
Creation of the Human Tissue Bank
In 2001, Héma-Québec was entrusted with a new, crucial mission: serving as a supplier of human tissue for transplants for the province’s patients. Transplant Québec is responsible for organ donations, and Héma-Québec is in charge of collecting, preparing and distributing human tissue like skin, corneas, heart valves, bones and tendons.
Opening of the first donation centre
On October 29, 2001, an exciting new chapter began for Héma-Québec with the opening of a permanent centre for blood and platelet donations. This meant that the blood product supply would no longer rely solely on mobile blood drives. Located at Montréal’s Place Versailles shopping mall and open seven days a week, the very first centre under the GLOBULE name allowed the organization to get even closer to the public and properly meet its needs. A second GLOBULE opened in Québec City in 2003. Today, there are a total of twelve permanent Héma-Québec centres across the province, all known as Héma-Québec Donation Centres.
1999
Creation of the Héma-Québec Foundation
While collecting and delivering biological products of human origin is at the heart of what Héma-Québec does, donating these products is not the only way to help the organization accomplish its mission. Some people give their time as a volunteer, and others choose to support the organization financially. The Héma-Québec Foundation is responsible for managing these monetary donations. The Foundation was created in 1999 to support the design and development of innovative projects, allowing Héma-Québec to continue saving lives!
1998
Launch of the cut-off sleeve campaign
Since it was founded, Héma-Québec has strived to convince people to take the time to donate blood products. However, it’s no secret that there’s nothing better than a powerful image to make an impact. In 2006, the first ads featuring well-known figures sporting the iconic cut-off sleeve were shown to the public. For over ten years, Héma-Québec’s advertising focused on the simple but effective concept of rolling up our sleeves for a good cause. The perfect example of the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”!
Discover Héma-Québec's first steps in this manuscript written by Pierre Cayouette.
Download the PDF book (in French only)