Technical improvements in heat-ethanol isolation of serum albumin.

Although the heat-ethanol method of fractionation for the isolation of normal serum albumin (NSA) is technically easier and more economic than cold-ethanol methods, globulin removal and albumin concentration remain basic hinderances to a truly simplified procedure. Continuous flow centrifugation for the separation of precipitated proteins has been effectively replaced on the one hand by alluvial filtration (globulins), and onthe other hand by diafiltration (albumin). Through these changes, investive and running costs are further reduced, noise is all but eliminated, albumin yield is somewhat increased, and personnel required for a 600 1 plasma batch is reduced from four workers to one.