Patent ID: 8071395

Claim:
A method for capturing and isolating cells comprising: (a) mixing a sample comprising rare target cells and contaminant cells with magnetically responsive particles having an affinity to the rare target cells to produce a sample solution having magnetically responsive particles bound to rare target cells; (b) contacting a magnetic member having a non-adherent sleeve with the sample solution; (c) producing a continuous relative motion between the magnetic member and the sample solution while the magnetic member produces a magnetic field across the non-adherent sleeve, such that the magnetically responsive particles bound to rare target cells are selectively captured onto the non-adherent sleeve and wherein the continuous relative motion is applied in concentric circles such that a majority of the sample solution has access to the magnetic member; (d) contacting the magnetic member having the captured rare target cells with a recovery solution; (e) substantially removing the magnetic field produced by the member across the non-adherent sleeve whereby the magnetically responsive particles bound to rare target cells are released into the recovery fluid.