Patent ID: 7425426

Claim:
A method for purifying one or more selected cells in a population, comprising: (a) contacting a plurality of cells immobilized in proximity to a capture matrix that localizes a product secreted by one or more of the cells with an agent that selectively binds to the product, wherein the agent generates a signal detectable as a property of light; (b) illuminating a population of the cells, contained in a frame; (c) detecting two or more properties bf light directed from the frame, wherein a first property of light identifies substantially all cells of the population, and a second property of light identifies product localized to the capture matrix; (d) locating substantially all cells of the population with reference to the detected first property of light; (e) selecting one or more cells with reference to the detected second property of light; and (f) irradiating the one or more non-selected cells, wherein each the one or more non-selected cells receives a substantially lethal dose of radiation, whereby one or more selected cells having a desired product secretion profile are purified.