Apparatus and methods for producing interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and/or other prophylatically or therapeutically effective protein. Blood is obtained from a patient with a conventional syringe and then introduced into dual luer lock centrifuge tube. The dual luer lock centrifuge tube is provided with beads that are coated with a silanized coating. The container is then incubated and centrifuged. Subsequent to the incubation and the centrifugation, the serum containing autologous therapeutically active protein, such as IL-1Ra, in the container is withdrawn through the luer lock of the container, and injected back into the patient.