Patent ID: 8084271

Claim:
A method for handling microparticles ( 22 ) that bind a desired component from a sample, comprising: (a) providing a vessel ( 26 ), wherein the vessel contains microparticles ( 22 ) in a solution ( 23 ), wherein the solution comprises a sample, wherein the sample comprises a desired biological component, wherein the desired component is selected from the group consisting of: a nucleic acid, a protein, a peptide, a cell organelle, a bacterium, a cell, and a virus; (b) incubating the microparticles and the sample in the vessel for a time sufficient for the microparticles to bind the desired component from the sample; (c) performing at least two treatment steps of the microparticles ( 22 ) in the vessel ( 26 ) with a magnetic tool ( 10 ) equipped with a protective shield ( 21 ) or coating wherein the microparticles are not moved to another vessel, and wherein the microparticles ( 22 ) are magnetic particles selected from the group consisting of: ferromagnetic particles, paramagnetic particles, and superparamagnetic particles, wherein the magnetic tool comprises a ferromagnetic sleeve; wherein the at least two treatment steps in the vessel comprise: at least one change of solutions ( 23 ) comprising removing one solution from the vessel and adding another solution to the vessel, wherein the microparticles ( 22 ) are collected and bound on the protective shield ( 21 ) or coating of the magnetic tool ( 10 ) during the at least one change of solutions ( 23 ); at least one mixing, wherein the microparticles ( 22 ) are mixed in the vessel ( 26 ) by moving the magnetic tool ( 10 ) in the solution ( 23 ) containing the microparticles thereby mixing the microparticles; and wherein the vessel is a tube or a well.