Patent ID: 6190870
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for separation of disseminated tumor cells from a whole blood cell sample present as a fluid suspension, the method comprising the steps, in order, of:adding to said whole blood cell sample antibodies specific for one or more antigens expressed by said tumor cells and absent on blood cells, wherein said antibodies are coupled to a magnetically responsive reagent, under conditions sufficient to specifically bind said coupled antibodies to said antigens;passing said sample through a ferromagnetic matrix in the presence of a magnetic field to magnetically immobilize cells in the sample having coupled antibodies bound thereto;washing said matrix of unbound cells; andremoving the magnetic field and eluting bound cells from said matrix directly onto a solid support to provide an enriched cell sample comprising tumor cells, wherein said eluting is by centrifugation or vacuum filtration.