Inactivation and Elimination of Viruses during the Fractionation of an Intravenous Immunoglobulin Preparation: Liquid Heat Treatment and Polyethylene Glycol Fractionation

A method for the heat treatment of human IgG solution at 60 degrees C for 10 h was established. Human immunodeficiency, mumps, vaccinia and 4 other viruses were added to the IgG solution in 33% sorbitol and heated at 60 degrees C. Those viruses were inactivated within 1 h. Heat-treated intravenous IgG (IVIG-H) was prepared by heat treatment and polyethylene glycol (PEG) fractionation. Conventional nonheated intravenous IgG (IVIG-C) was prepared from the same source paste by the fractionation method. No physicochemical or biological difference was observed between the heated and control IVIG preparations.