Patent ID: 9568403
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: B03C,G01N

Claim:
1. A method comprising: (a) providing a probe which comprises a hollow shield having a lower end portion with a closed bottom end and a probe magnet moveable up and down in the shield such that the probe magnet has an upper position and a lower position; (b) providing magnetic particles which are arranged to selectively interact with a target substance; (c) providing a liquid medium containing the target substance in a vessel; (d) introducing the magnetic particles into the liquid medium such that the magnetic particles selectively interact with the target substance so that the target substance is fixed to the magnetic particles: (e) introducing the probe into the liquid medium by keeping the probe magnet in the lower position such that at least a part of the magnetic particles are attached on the lower end portion of the shield; (f) lifting the probe together with the magnetic articles attached to the lower end portion of the shield from the liquid medium; (g) placing the lower end portion of the shield on a release location of a plate having a release magnet located below the release location to attract the magnetic particles, wherein a surface of the release location is either dry, has as a liquid film or a drop of liquid smaller than 0.2 μl thereon; and (h) removing the magnetic particles from the lower end portion of the shield on the release location by lifting the probe magnet from the lower position to the upper position.