Abstract: A method and an apparatus for inactivating contaminants in blood products are disclosed. The blood product is flowed past an emitter of type C ultraviolet radiation while controlling the flow of the blood product so that the irradiation doses which are received by the blood product are lower than 640 joules/m2. The blood product is substantially free of nonenveloped viruses after the irradiation. The apparatus includes an emitter of type C ultraviolet radiation placed so as to emit the type C radiation toward the blood product in a quartz tube or a tube made of polymerized material which does not absorb type C radiation. The apparatus also includes a flow meter for controlling the flow rate of the blood product to be treated.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for inactivating contaminants in blood products are disclosed. The blood product is flowed past an emitter of type C ultraviolet radiation while controlling the flow of the blood product so that the irradiation doses which are received by the blood product are lower than 640 joules/m2. The blood product is substantially free of nonenveloped viruses after the irradiation. The apparatus includes an emitter of type C ultraviolet radiation placed so as to emit the type C radiation toward the blood product in a quartz tube or a tube made of polymerized material which does not absorb type C radiation. The apparatus also includes a flow meter for controlling the flow rate of the blood product to be treated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inactivating contaminants, particularly nonenveloped viruses, in blood products without the need for quenchers in the blood products. The blood product is flowed through a flow meter at a controlled flow rate and subjected to type C ultraviolet radiation, where the irradiation dose received by the blood product is less than 640 joules/m2. The blood product does not contain quenchers when being irradiated, and the blood product retains more than 85% of its Factor VIII activity after being subjected to the radiation. The produced blood product is free of viruses and quenchers, avoiding potential toxicity due to the quenchers. The apparatus includes a source of UVC light, a quartz tube containing the blood product while it is exposed to the UVC light, a flow meter for controlling the flow rate of the blood product to be treated, and a pump. The UV light preferably emits light at 254 nm.

Abstract: A fibrinogen concentrate has a purity of 98% or higher and is free of viral contaminants and proteases. The fibrinogen concentrate is obtained by subjecting a solubilized plasma fraction containing fibrinogen to a viral inactivation chemical treatment using a solvent/detergent, subjecting the resulting viral-inactivated fraction to precipitation in a solution containing an amino acid at an acidic pH to obtain a supernatant, filtering the supernatant to obtain a purified fibrinogen concentrate, and recovering the purified fibrinogen concentrate.