The present invention employs a filtration step during the hemoglobin
purification process that substantially decreases viral contamination of a
hemoglobin solution. The filtration means can be used to separate
hemoglobin and several endogenous antioxidant enzymes from red blood cell
stroma and potential adventitious agents. The purified
hemoglobin/antioxidant composition is then subjected to a chemical
modification process. The resulting modified hemoglobin/antioxidant
composition is then fractionated to remove unmodified hemoglobin species
and residual reactants, formulated in electrolytes and rendered sterile.
The resulting modified hemoglobin product is substantially free of viral
contamination and contains at least one endogenous antioxidant enzyme that
retains antioxidant activity.
