Patent ID: 7077961

Claim:
A process for limiting risks of leakage and variations in a water permeability of a device for the extracorporeal treatment of blood or plasma, said device being subjected to a temperature below 0° C., and comprising, a first compartment configured to circulate blood or plasma, and a second compartment configured to circulate spent liquid, said first and second compartments being separated by a semi-permeable membrane, said semi-permeable membrane being stored in a wet state, said process comprising the steps of: preparing an aqueous glycerol solution having a concentration of 7% to 15% by weight of glycerol and being free of chemical compounds that are toxic before or after high-energy sterilization; placing the aqueous glycerol solution in contact with the semi-permeable membrane; purging the device of the aqueous glycerol solution; and sterilizing the device with higher energy sterilization.