Method of reducing leachate from protein a affinity media

A method of purifying an antibody sample comprising:

• contacting the sample with a protein A affinity support under conditions such that antibodies are captured by binding to protein A on the support to form support-bound antibodies,
• removing non-antibody components from the support bound antibodies, and
• releasing the support bound antibodies from the support to obtain a purified antibody preparation,
• wherein prior to or during said contacting, the sample is contacted with at least one protease inhibitor in an amount effective to reduce the level of protein A leachate in the purified antibody preparation relative to the level of protein A leachate that is present in the purified antibody preparation when the at least one protease inhibitor is not contacted with the sample.