A new high quality albumin for therapeutic use.

A method of large scale plasma fractionation where PEG precipitation combined with absorption is described. This method permits isolation of most globulins under mild conditions. The final purification of the albumin is achieved by heat treatment at 60 degrees C pH 4.8. The quality of albumin preparations for therapeutic use is discussed from two points of view, purity and nativity. The main problem of purity is the content of high molecular weight aggregates formed by the pasteurization (60 degrees C, 10 h.). The aggregates give a risk for immunological reactions. The nativity of albumin is correlated to the contents of oxidized albumin, and to the metabolism in man. In all the methods discussed, considerable differences are found between albumin preparations produced by different methods.