An alternative method of large scale plasma fractionation for the isolation of serum albumin.

Abstract

Human plasma may be separated into five fractions using the method described by Cohn in 1946. Although there are several drawbacks to alcohol precipitation, especially in albumin isolation, it is still used throughout the world. This paper describes an alternative procedure for albumin isolation from plasma or albumin-containing plasma fractions using a combined heat fraction/polyethylene glycol precipitation method. No polyethylene glycol is detected in the final product which is immunoelectrophoretically 100% pure, salt poor, heat resistant during pasteurization, and stable during long-term room temperature storage. The yield is at least 90% of the original plasma albumin. In comparison with the Cohn method, fractionation time and expense are significantly reduced.