Patent ID: 6682940
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of processing cells comprising the steps of:a) providing a suspension of cells in a liquid medium, said cells including first cells, b) contacting a group of first beads with said suspension, each of said first beads being coated with a binding substance or being magnetic such that each first bead is specifically adapted to bind to at least one of said first cells, c) incubating said first beads with said suspension for a period of time effective to permit said first cells to bind to said first beads to form first bead-first cell complexes, each first bead-first cell complex comprising a first bead and a first cell, d) separating said first bead-first cell complexes from said suspension by filtration through a filter, wherein said filter permits effective separation of said first bead-first cell complexes from said suspension, and e) examining said separated first bead-first cell complexes and characterizing said first cells, said method further comprising the step of adding to a preparatory suspension of said cells a fixative in an amount effective to inhibit phagocytosis of beads and subsequently washing out said fixative prior to said contacting in step (b).