The present invention relates to a novel method for the isolation or
purification of immunoglobulins (a special class of proteins) from a
solution containing immunoglobulins, e.g. hybridoma cell culture
supernatants, animal plasma or sera, or colostrum. The method includes
the use of a minimum of salts, such as lyotropic salts, in the binding
process and preferably also the use of small amounts of organic solvents
in the elution process. The solid phase matrices, preferably
epichlorohydrin activated agarose matrices, are functionalised with mono-
or bicyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic ligands (molecular weight: at the
most 500 Dalton) which, preferably, comprises an acidic substituent, e.g.
a carboxylic acid. The matrices utilised show excellent properties in a
"Standard Immunoglobulin Binding Test" and in a "Monoclonal Antibody
Array Binding Test" with respect to binding efficiency and purity, and
are stable in 1M NaOH.