In-line liquid filtration device useable for blood, blood products or the like

A liquid filtration device for filtering viral inactivating agents from blood or one or more blood product, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port;
• at least one filter element capable of removing viral inactivating agents disposed within the housing between the inlet port and outlet port, said filter element being disposed within said housing to prevent liquid from flowing in between the filter element and a wall of the housing;
• a channel within said housing and downstream of said filter element, said channel having a cross sectional flow area defined by the inner surface of said channel and said filter element, said channel being in fluid flow relationship with said outlet port and having a cross sectional flow area which, along at least a length of the channel having a portion adjoining the outlet port and upstream of the port, is less than or equal to the cross sectional flow area of the outlet port wherein air within said channel is forced by filtered liquid to flow through said channel and said outlet port thereby removing air contacting said filter element from the device.