Patent ID: 8137903

Claim:
A method of separating red blood cells or red blood cell fragments from other components of a biological sample in a specimen container the method comprising the steps of: i.) adding to a specimen container a biological sample containing red blood cells or red blood cell fragments, which specimen container comprises an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve defining an internal compartment therebetween containing magnetic beads, said magnetic beads comprising a binder capable of selectively binding to red blood cells or red blood cell fragments; ii.) removing said inner sleeve from said outer sleeve thus allowing said magnetic beads to come into fluid contact with said biological sample; iii.) allowing the magnetic beads to selectively bind to the red blood cells or red blood cell fragments in the specimen container; iv.) positioning a magnetic field in close proximity to the magnetic beads in the specimen container such that the beads are manipulated to the inner wall of the outer sleeve by the magnetic field; and v.) reinserting said inner sleeve into said outer sleeve such that the red blood cells or red blood cell fragments separate from other cellular components of the patient sample in the specimen container.