Methods and Devices for the Enrichment of Immunoglobulin from Blood

(canceled)

(canceled)

18-19. (canceled)

A method for enriching immunoglobulin such as IgG from an initial biological fluid, comprising obtaining an initial biological fluid suspected of containing immunoglobulin and contacting the initial biological fluid with a solid support covalently bonded to a ligand that specifically binds to a non-immunoglobulin component in the initial biological fluid under conditions sufficient for non-covalent binding of non-immunoglobulin component in the initial biological fluid to the ligand, and removing the bound non-immunoglobulin components to obtain a non-immunoglobulin component-reduced biological fluid enriched for immunoglobulin.

22-27. (canceled)

A container configured for use in a plasmapheresis machine, the container comprising a solid support covalently bonded a ligand that specifically binds to a target molecule selected from the group consisting of an IgG molecule, a non-IgG molecule, an immunoglobulin, and a non-immunoglobulin molecule, wherein the container is configured to support a biological fluid passing through the container at a flow rate of between about 20 ml/minute to about 120 ml/minute.

29-31. (canceled)

A bag configured for used in an apheresis system, such as a plasmapheresis system or a plateletpheresis system, the bag comprising an inner surface and a mesh lining on the inner surface thereby creating a pocket on the inner surface, wherein beads covalently bonded to ligand that specifically binds to a target molecule selected from the group consisting of an IgG molecule, a non-IgG molecule, an immunoglobulin, and a non-immunoglobulin molecule, are located within the pocket.

An apheresis system configured to extract at least 55% of immunoglobulin such as IgG present in a biological fluid using a container comprising a solid support covalently bonded to a ligand that specifically binds to immunoglobulin, in a method comprising (a) contacting a biological fluid suspected of containing immunoglobulin, with the solid support covalently bonded to the ligand that specifically binds to immunoglobulin in the container under conditions sufficient for non-covalent binding of immunoglobulin to the ligand;

• and (b) contacting the solid support in the container with an elution solution under condition whereby the non-covalently bound immunoglobulin is released from the ligand and into the elution solution to obtain elution solution comprising immunoglobulin.

An apheresis system configured to enrich at least 55% of immunoglobulin (e.g., IgG) present in a biological fluid using a container comprising a solid support covalently bonded to a ligand that specifically binds to a non-immunoglobulin component in the biological fluid, in a method comprising (a) contacting a biological fluid suspected of containing immunoglobulin with the solid support in the container under conditions sufficient for non-covalent binding of the non-immunoglobulin component to the ligand;

• and (b) collecting the non-immunoglobulin depleted biological fluid from the container, the non-immunoglobulin depleted biological fluid being enriched for immunoglobulin.

35-46. (canceled)