Therapeutic fractions were obtained by fractionating human plasma containing
HBs antigen, by the Cohn ethanol technique modified by Nitschmann. Plasmas with
various HBs antigen titers were selected. The antigen was sought in each fraction by the
techniques of counterelectrophoresis and radioimmunological detection in liquid phase.
With the exception of very pure albumins, all fractions were found to contain the HBs
antigen, though in variable proportions. A technique for the purification of albumin,
applicable on an industrial scale, is proposed. It makes it possible to obtain an albumin
fraction in which the HBs antigen cannot be detected by the most sensitive techniques,
even starting with a plasma which is very rich in HBs antigen (titer 1/64 by counterelectro
phoresis).