Patent ID: 9663762
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: C12N,G01N

Claim:
1. A method for obtaining target cells from a fluid, cell-containing sample, the method comprising: a) providing a fluid, cell-containing sample; b) passing the sample through a degradable matrix filter mounted as an insert in a conical tube or filter unit, the filter having a three dimensional structure that is fabricated of an enzyme degradable biopolymer, wherein the matrix filter has a porosity that physically retains target cells based on a size of the target cells while allowing passage of smaller non-target cells, including erythrocytes, through the matrix filter; c) removing the filter from the conical tube or filter unit and recovering target cells retained within the matrix filter by enzymatically degrading said matrix filter such that at least 50% of the three dimensional structure of the matrix filter is enzymatically degraded such that the three dimensional structure is no longer able to physically retain the target cells; and d) recovering the target cells from the enzymatically degraded matrix filter by centrifugation.