Inauguration of new laboratories At Héma-Québec, it's in our blood!

Saint-Laurent, September 26, 2002 - HÉMA-QUÉBEC inaugurated its new laboratories at 4045 Côte-Vertu Boulevard in Montréal, in the borough of Saint-Laurent, before almost 400 guests. After two years of preparation, the new facilities, which are equipped with cutting-edge technology, are now fully operational. Ministers Nicole Léger and Stéphane Dion were on hand to highlight this event and pay tribute to all HÉMA-QUÉBEC employees.

A $16,1 million investment
Over 300 employees work in the new wing, which includes areas for blood transformation, qualification activities, hospital order processing and distribution, immunohematology services, blood drive preparation, and storage.

"The laboratory relocation project began in September 2000. We needed the new space due to the cramped facilities at 3131 Sherbrooke Street East and new technological requirements, " explained Dr. Francine Décary, Executive Director of HÉMA-QUÉBEC.

In October 2000, Groupe d'architectes NFOE et associés architectes and engineering firm Pellemon were hired to build the new 7,900 square metre wing. For about a year and a half, more than 125 tradespeople worked on this large-scale project.

In order to maintain the supply to blood banks at Québec hospitals, the relocation was divided into three phases, ending on May 21, 2002. The new facilities are more spacious and contain cutting-edge equipment. The work space was designed with the personnel's comfort in mind.

In addition to being earthquake-proof, the wing is equipped with two separate drinking water networks: one for the laboratories and another for the bathrooms and other departments. A 600-Volt, 3,000-Amp electrical service entrance provides power to 10 cold rooms which have a total cooling capacity of about 220,000 BTU/hour. Furthermore, the building is cooled by a 220-ton capacity air conditioning unit. The infrastructures are also equipped with a 160 kVA uninteruptible power supply and two 500 kVA generators to provide backup power in case of a power failure. There are also two 400 kW boilers that produce enough hot water to heat the building.

HÉMA-QUÉBEC's mission is to provide Quebeckers with sufficient quantities of safe, top-quality blood components, derivatives and blood substitutes to meet the needs of hospitals and to provide and develop expertise and services, along with specialized, novel products, in the fields of transfusion medicine and tissue transplantation.

-30-

Contact : Nicole Pelletier
Director, Communications
HÉMA-QUÉBEC