This invention is directed to systems and methods for removing lipids from
a fluid, such as plasma, or from lipid-containing organisms. These
systems contact a fluid with an extraction solvent, which causes the
lipids in the fluid to separate from the fluid or causes lipids in the
lipid-containing organisms to separate from the lipid-containing
organism, using at least one hollow fiber contactor. The separated lipids
are removed from the fluid. The extraction solvent is removed from the
fluid or at least reduced to a level below a particular threshold
enabling the fluid to be administered to a patient without the patient
experiencing undesirable consequences. Once the fluid has been processed,
the fluid may be administered to a patient who donated the fluid, to a
different patient, or be stored.