Patent ID: 7354773

Claim:
A method for preparing a biological cell sample for detection of intracellullar components selected from the group consisting of: cytokines, tubulin filaments, intermediate filaments, defensins, effectors, cytokeratins, actins, B-cell antigen receptor complexes, proliferation antigens, enzymes, and apoptotic proteins, said method comprising the steps of: (a) dispensing a predetermined volume of a biological cell sample into a reaction vessel, said cell sample containing cells of interest comprising a selected one of said intracellular components; (b) fixing said cells of interest, permeabilizing said cells of interest, and staining said selected one of said intracellular components by tagging said selected intracellular component with a fluorochrome-labeled antibody specific to said selected intracellular component, said fixing, permeabilizing and staining steps being carried out without any intervening washing step to rid said cell sample of interferants that could interfere with the detection of said selected intracellular component; and (c) washing said cell sample only after carrying out said fixing, permeabilizing and stain steps of step (b) to minimize the presence of said interferants.