Patent ID: 8518636

Claim:
A method for preparing monocytic dendritic cell precursors from a sample of blood constituents from a subject wherein the sample comprises leukocytes, the method comprising: (1) introducing the sample into a remover unit, wherein the remover unit comprises a cross-flow chamber, a filtrate chamber, and a filter disposed therebetween; the filter having a retentate surface and a filtrate surface, the filter in fluid communication with the cross-flow chamber and the filtrate chamber; the cross-flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet disposed to introduce the cell population comprising the sample of blood constituents comprising the leukocytes from a source into the cross-flow chamber and parallel to the retentate surface of the filter, and the outlet centrally disposed in a portion of the cross-flow chamber opposite the filter retentate surface; (2) subjecting the sample to cross-flow substantially parallel to a filter having a pore size of about 1 to about 10 microns; (3) subjecting the sample to filtration through the filter; (4) selectively removing non-leukocyte blood constituents from the sample through the filter and removing the leukocytes through the centrally disposed outlet to form a cell population enriched for leukocytes; and (5) preparing monocytic dendritic cell precursors from the cell population enriched for leukocytes.