Patent ID: 6184043
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for detecting and quantitating a specific living target cell in a cell suspension of a mixed cell population at a sensitivity of one target cell per 100 or more total cells, in a fluid system containing a mixed cell population, or in a single-cell suspension prepared from a solid tissue, with the exception of normal and malignant hematopoietic cells in blood and bone marrow, the method comprising the steps of:a. coating paramagnetic particles or beads with an antibody or antibody fragment directed against a membrane structure specifically expressed on the target-cell and not on a non-target-cell in the cell mixture;b. mixing the coated paramagnetic particles or beads with the cell suspension containing the target-cells;c. incubating the mixture under gentle rotation;d. examining the target-cells after incubation; ande. counting the target-cells after incubation.