RARE CELL CONCENTRATION
First Claim
1. A method of increasing a ratio of rare cells to non-rare cells in a blood sample suspected of containing rare cells and non-rare cells, the method comprising:
- (a) providing in combination the blood sample, a platelet deactivation agent, a fibrin-formation-arresting agent, and fibrin in an amount sufficient to yield a predetermined level of agglutination of the rare cells thereby preparing a treated blood sample, and(b) contacting the treated blood sample with a porous matrix such that agglutinated rare cells are preferentially retained on the porous matrix.
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Abstract
A ratio of rare cells to non-rare cells in a blood sample suspected of containing rare cells and non-rare cells is enhanced. A treated blood sample is prepared by providing in combination the blood sample, a platelet deactivation agent, a fibrin-formation-arresting agent and fibrin in an amount sufficient to cause a predetermined level of agglutination of the rare cells. The treated blood sample is then contacted with a porous matrix such that agglutinated rare cells are preferentially retained on the porous matrix. The rare cells may then be identified.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of increasing a ratio of rare cells to non-rare cells in a blood sample suspected of containing rare cells and non-rare cells, the method comprising:
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(a) providing in combination the blood sample, a platelet deactivation agent, a fibrin-formation-arresting agent, and fibrin in an amount sufficient to yield a predetermined level of agglutination of the rare cells thereby preparing a treated blood sample, and (b) contacting the treated blood sample with a porous matrix such that agglutinated rare cells are preferentially retained on the porous matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of increasing a ratio of cancer cells to non-cancer cells in a blood sample suspected of containing cancer cells and non-cancer cells, the method comprising:
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(a) preparing a treated blood sample by combining the blood sample with a platelet deactivation agent, a fibrin-formation-arresting agent, and fibrin in an amount sufficient to cause agglutination of the rare cells in an amount of about 2.5% to about 100% based on an amount of surface area of the rare cells covered with large fibrin, (c) diluting the treated blood sample with a dilution medium, and (d) disposing the diluted treated blood sample on a side of the porous matrix and applying pressure to the disposed treated blood sample wherein agglutinated cancer cells are preferentially retained on the porous matrix. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of identifying at least one rare cell type in a blood sample suspected of containing the rare cell type, the method comprising:
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(a) providing in combination the blood sample, a platelet deactivation agent, a fibrin-formation-arresting agent, and fibrin in an amount of about 0.2 mg/L to about 10 mg/L to cause agglutination of the rare cells and to prepare a treated blood sample, (c) diluting the treated blood sample with a dilution medium, (e) contacting the diluted treated blood sample with a porous matrix such that agglutinated rare cells are preferentially retained on the porous matrix, and (f) contacting the rare cells with an identification agent. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification