Coulter Corporation

Miltenyi Biotec, Gmbh

Robert J Schmittling

Wallace H Coulter

Thomas R Russell

Robert K Zwerner

Olavi Siiman

Norma Sue Kenyon

Wade E Bolton

A separation procedure for separating a selected desired or undesired population from a biological sample utilizing relatively heavy, dense particles and gravity sedimentation. The particles have one or more reactants bound thereto which are specific to and will bind with the selected population. The particles preferably are mixed with the sample by repeatedly causing the particles to settle through a substantial portion of the sample to bind to the selected population. The particles with the bound selected population then are allowed to preferentially settle in the sample and the supernatant including an enriched population is separated from the particles with the selected population bound thereto. The enriched populations in the biological sample supernatant can be further enriched by multiple removal steps.

Method of selection of a population or subpopulation of a sample utilizing particles and gravity sedimentation

The invention provides a method for enriching a sample in tumor cells and determining the DNA ploidy and proliferative index of the tumor cells present in the sample. The method uses a pan-leukocyte monoclonal antibody conjugated to a separable substrate such as magnetic microspheres to conjugate and remove leukocytes from the sample. A fluorescently labelled monoclonal antibody specific to a tumor associated antigen or an antigen arising from the presence of the tumor and a DNA staining reagent are added to the leukocyte depleted sample. The sample is then analyzed by dual color flow cytometry to determine cells having an abnormal DNA content by gating on fluorescently labelled cells.

Method of analyzing tumor cell DNA content through tumor cell enrichment

A separation procedure for separating a selected desired or undesired population from a biological sample utilizing relatively heavy, dense particles and gravity sedimentation. The particles have one or more reactants bound thereto which are specific to and will bind with the selected population. The particles preferably are mixed with the sample by repeatedly causing the particles to settle through a substantial portion of the sample to bind to the selected population. The particles with the bound selected population then are allowed to preferentially settle in the sample and the supernatant including the non-selected population is separated from the particles with the selected population bound thereto. The particles can be heated for sterilization and endotoxin removal.

Method of positive or negative selection of a population or

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Cooper City, FL, United States of America

Robert J Schmittling