A process is provided for selectively removing protein aggregates from a
protein solution in a normal flow (NFF) filtration process. Preferably,
it relates to a process for selectively removing protein aggregates from
a protein solution in a normal flow (NFF) filtration process and virus
particles from a protein solution in a two-step filtration process. In a
first step, a protein solution is filtered through one or more layers of
adsorptive depth filters, charged or surface modified microporous
membranes or a small bed of chromatography media in a normal flow
filtration mode of operation, to produce a protein aggregate free stream.
The aggregate free protein stream can then be filtered through one or
more ultrafiltration membranes to retain virus particles at a retention
level of at least 3 LRV and to allow passage therethrough of an aggregate
free and virus free protein solution.