Patent ID: 6900029
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of enhancing a selected population or subpopulation of cells of interest in a fluid sample having a plurality of populations of cells, comprising: providing a plurality of particles having a density at least two times the density of the cells of interest and sufficient to provide differential gravity settling, said particles having bound thereto a reactant which specifically binds to the cells or biological particles of at least one preselected population or subpopulation not of interest; mixing a portion of said sample with said particles to bind said particles to said cells or biological particles of said preselected population or subpopulation without substantially physically damaging said cells of said selected population or subpopulation of interest; differential gravity settling said particles with said bound population or subpopulation of cells or biological particles in said sample portion, wherein settling is accomplished by gravity separation alone; removing at least a portion of the resultant supernatant of said sample portion including said selected population or subpopulation of said cells of interest from said particles and said bound population or subpopulation of cells or biological particles; providing a second plurality of particles having a density at least two times the density of the cells of interest and sufficient to provide differential gravity settling, said particles having bound thereto a reactant which specifically binds to the cells or biological particles of at least one preselected population or subpopulation not of interest; mixing at least a portion of said removed supernatant of said sample portion including said selected population or subpopulation of cells of interest with said second plurality of particles to bind said second plurality of particles to said second preselected population or subpopulation of cells or biological particles without substantially physically damaging said selected population or subpopulation of cells of interest; differential gravity settling said second set of particles with said bound population or subpopulation of cells or biological particles in said supernatant sample portion wherein settling is accomplished by gravity separation alone; and removing at least a portion of the resultant second supernatant including said selected population or subpopulation of cells of interest from said second set of particles and said bound population or subpopulation of cells or biological particles and recovering at least fifty percent of said selected population or subpopulation of cells originally in said supernatant sample portion.