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Plasma-derived intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparations have been successfully applied for the prophylactic prevention of infectious diseases in immunodeficient patients. In addition to its replacement therapy of primary and secondary antibody deficiencies, IVIG has found increased use in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. IVIG has become the major plasma product on the global blood product market. The world wide consumption nearly tripled between 1992 and 2003, from 19.4 to 52.6 tons. Classical manufacturing processes of IVIG, but also new strategies for purification are discussed with respect to practicability and yield. Ethanol fractionation is still the basis for most IVIG processes, although isolation and purification of immunoglobulin G (IgG) by chromatography has gained ground. The efficiency of virus inactivation methods and virus removal techniques in terms of logarithmic reduction factors are analyzed, but also the IgG losses are taken into consideration. Some of these methods also have the ability to separate prions. High pathogen safety and high yields have become the dominant goals of the plasma fractionation industry.