A dye-ligand. Cibacron Blue F3GA. was covalently coupled with the poly(EGDMA-HEMA) microbeads. The affinity sorbent carrying 16.5 micromol Cibacron Blue F3GA per gram polymer was then used to remove bilirubin from human plasma in a packed-bed column system. Bilirubin adsorption from human plasma on the unmodified poly(EGDMA-HEMA) microbeads was 0.32 mg/g, while much higher adsorption values, up to 24.2 mg/g, were obtained with the dye-attached microbeads. The bilirubin adsorption capacity of the microbeads decreased with an increase in the recirculation rate of plasma. Bilirubin adsorption increased with increasing temperature, and the maximum adsorption achieved at 37 degrees C (32.5 mg bilirubin/g polymer). Bilirubin molecules interacted directly with the immobilized Cibacron Blue F3GA molecules. Contribution of albumin adsorption on bilirubin adsorption was also significant.