Patent ID: 8252604

Claim:
A method for selecting a particle possessing a predetermined property from a population encompassing a multiplicity of different particles, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a population of different particles, (b) labeling particles which possess a predetermined property, (c) conveying a first fluid stream, which contains the particles and under conditions under which the particles carry electric charges, through a channel, with the first fluid stream being in contact with at least two additional fluid streams which are flowing concurrently, essentially without mixing, with the first fluid stream, (d) conveying the fluid streams through a detection element which is able to distinguish between labeled and unlabeled particles, (e) applying a negative field in order to transfer positively charged particles from the first fluid stream into a fluid stream conveying particles to a second outlet, (f) applying a positive field in order to transfer negatively charged particles from the first fluid stream into a fluid stream conveying particles to a third outlet, (g) conveying the fluid streams through three outlets for separately conveying away the fluid streams from the channel, wherein a first outlet conveys the first fluid stream, which still contains unlabeled particles, said second outlet conveys a fluid stream comprising particles having positive charge and said third outlet conveys a fluid stream comprising particles having negative charge, and (h) where appropriate identifying and/or characterizing the labeled and separated-off particle, wherein the population comprises more than 10 8 different particles and the labeled particles are detected by confocal single molecule detection or dynamic time-resolved analysis.