The present invention is directed to an integrated system and a method for utilizing the system to detect and remove blood-borne factors of interest, such as pathogens and/or toxins and/or cytokines, from blood or serum (blood) by contacting the blood with a solid, essentially nonporous substrate which has been surface treated with molecules or chemical groups (the adsorbent media or media) having a binding affinity for the pathogens and/or toxins to be removed (the adsorbents). The invention can be used to remove virulence factors, e.g. toxins, that are released from various pathogens. In one aspect, the invention is for the treatment of sepsis and infection, such as infections associated with battle field trauma.