Patent ID: 7776580

Claim:
A process for isolating a target cell, cellular organelle or virus from a sample, which process comprises: a) contacting a sample containing or suspected of containing a target cell, cellular organelle or virus with a magnetic bead, said magnetic bead not comprising a moiety that can form a specific binding pair with said target cell, cellular organelle or virus; b) allowing said target cell, cellular organelle or virus, if present in said sample, to bind to said magnetic bead nonspecifically to form a conjugate between said target cell, cellular organelle or virus and said magnetic bead; and c) separating said conjugate from unbound constituents via a magnetic force to isolate said target cell, cellular organelle or virus from said sample, wherein the magnetic bead has a diameter of 200 nm and is modified to comprise a hydroxyl, a carboxyl or an epoxy group.