Patent ID: 7727219

Claim:
A method for forming an expandable closed, sterile bag system to be used for collecting, transporting and storing a biological fluid and the cells contained therein, the method comprising: providing a sterile, closed bag system, constructed for long-term exposure to biological fluid, the system having at least one inlet element and at least one outlet element; a plurality of sterile communicable components or compartments, separably connected to one another for holding, receiving, mixing, transporting, cryopreserving or storing biological fluid/cells in sterile form; one or more regions for containing or mixing liquid(s) and biological fluid(s) and for storing same; at least one closable air vent for removing air from one compartment to another within the system without opening the closed system; and shut-off elements and connecting lines communicably connecting parts of the bag system to maintain a closed, sterile system, and wherein the regions for storing contents of the bag system are hermetically sealable and separable from one another; providing at least one sterile fluid expansion connection assembly, comprising a sterile filter for sterile filtration of fluids added to the system, and sterile tube in sterile combination; and operably, connectably and sterilely attaching the tube end of the at least one expansion connection assembly to the bag system to provide at least one sterile expansion connecting assembly extending from the sterile, closed bag system.