Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a method of efficiently producing virus-inactivated hemoglobin from erythrocytes without affecting physical and chemical properties of hemoglobin while allowing to conduct an erythrocyte hemolysis treatment and viral inactivation treatment at the same time and also to perform a post-hemolysis purification step and a post-virus-inactivation purification step in a single step, and especially, a method of efficiently obtaining highly virus-inactivated and sterile hemoglobin assured of the inactivation of any virus regardless of the presence or absence of envelopes. [SOLVING MEANS] A method of producing virus-inactivated hemoglobin, which includes: an SD treatment step of bringing erythrocytes and a mixture of a solvent and a detergent into contact with each other to simultaneously conduct an erythrocyte hemolysis treatment and viral inactivation treatment of said erythrocytes and a purification step of collecting virus-inactivated hemoglobin from the resulting SD-treated solution.

Abstract: A matrix for supporting cells such as animal cells is provided that enables cells to be supported at high efficiency and density in a short period. The matrix contains a plurality of cone shaped pores having an average diameter opening in an upstream surface of the matrix of from 500 to 1500 &mgr;m. The diameter decreases from the upstream surface to a downstream surface, and the average diameter of the cone shaped pores in the whole matrix is from 100 to 1000 &mgr;m. The matrix also contains a plurality of communicating pores that communicate with the cone shaped pores and with each other. These pores have an average diameter of from 5 to 100 &mgr;m, and the diameter decreases from a pore opening positioned near one surface of the matrix or near an interior surface of the cone shaped pores to a pore opening positioned remote from the surfaces. The matrix may also contain a plurality of column shaped pores having an average diameter of 100 to 1000 &mgr;m.