Patent ID: 7972516

Claim:
A process for manipulating magnetic particles that are suspended in a fluid, the magnetic particles being able to bind an entity of interest, the fluid being contained in a reaction vessel constituted by a large upper compartment with a funnel shape, an elongate lower compartment with a substantially constant cross-section and a closed base, the process comprising: a) subjecting the magnetic particles to two magnetic fields applied simultaneously to separate all said magnetic particles present in at least the upper compartment of the vessel from the fluid, b) transferring the separated magnetic particles from the upper compartment to the elongated lower compartment, c) removing the fluid from the vessel, d) adding a washing liquid to the lower compartment, e) subjecting the magnetic particles to at least two magnetic fields applied successively with different and changing directions to wash all the magnetic particles present in the lower compartment in the washing fluid, and f) concentrating said magnetic particles in said lower compartment.