Patent ID: 8398861

Claim:
A separation method of extracting a target from a separation subject in which the target to be extracted and a non-target not to be extracted are mixed, said separation method comprising: distinguishing the target from the non-target; obtaining positional information of the target distinguished in said distinguishing step; applying a liquid to the target based on the positional information, wherein the liquid is applied to the target after said distinguishing and obtaining steps; and extracting the target from the separation subject by bringing a catch member into contact with the separation subject such that viscosity of the liquid causes the target to adhere to the catch member, wherein the liquid applied to the target in the applying step satisfies all of the following expressions (1) to (4): D×ρ≦ 23; (1) ( Y×U )/ A≧ 0.1055×exp(0.255 ×D ×ρ); (2) ( Y×U )/ A≧ 1.05; and (3) Y /( A×U )≦−1.2×Ln( D ×ρ)+3.8 (4) where Y is an amount (in μl) of the liquid applied to the target, U is the viscosity (in mPa·s) of the liquid, D is a thickness (in mm) of the target, A is an area (in cm 2 ) of the target, and ρ is density (in mg/mm 3 ) of the target.