Quebec's health minister offered assurances to patients on Thursday after the agency that oversees blood supplies in the province temporarily suspended use of some of its stock.
The problem has led to the postponement of some operations throughout the province.
"There is no contamination of the blood in Quebec," Health Minister Réjean Hébert told reporters in Quebec City.
"There is a problem with some batches of blood that could be contaminated, and we have withdrawn those batches of blood to be sure there's no problem."
A Montreal health services spokeswoman said some elective surgeries at five area hospitals were delayed.
A spokesman for blood-supply agency Héma-Québec said cracks were found in packaging used to store blood stock at a holding facility. -
