The invention relates to a filter for the separation of leukocytes from whole blood, comprising a hydrophobic support material and a polymeric coating material, whereby the surface of the filter has a critical surface wetting tension in the range 50 to 80 dyn/cm and the polymeric coating material may be obtained by polymerisation reaction of mixtures comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers. The invention further relates to a method for production of said filter and devices for the separation of leukocytes from whole blood and the use of the filter.