Immunomagnetic separation

Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is a laboratory tool that can efficiently isolat

e cells out of body fluid or cultured cells. It can also be used as a method of
quantifying the pathogenicity of food, blood or feces. DNA analysis have support
ed the combined use of both this technique and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).[
1] Another laboratory separation tool is the affinity magnetic separation (AMS),
which is more suitable for the isolation of prokaryotic cells.[2]
Technique
Antibodies coating paramagnetic beads will bind to antigens present on the surfa
ce of cells thus capturing the cells and facilitate the concentration of these b
ead-attached cells. The concentration process is created by a magnet placed on t
he side of the test tube bringing the beads to it.
References
1.Engstrand, L. and Enroth, H., Journal of Clinical microbiology, vol.33, no.8,
August 1995, p. 2162-2165.
2.Affinity magnetic separation of Listeria spp and Escherichia coli O157 (Bacter
ia Capture Kit)