Abstract: The invention is directed to a column system for separation of particles comprising a reservoir section with a input opening; a filter section provided with a filter matrix and an output opening and a plunger having a first and a second end, the first end fitting into the reservoir section characterized in that the plunger is provided with at least one channel providing gaseous communication from the first end to the second end. The column system may be used for magnetic cell separation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a column system for separation of particles comprising a reservoir section with a input opening; a filter section provided with a filter matrix and an output opening and a plunger having a first and a second end, the first end fitting into the reservoir section characterized in that the plunger is provided with at least one channel providing gaseous communication from the first end to the second end. The column system may be used for magnetic cell separation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for enriching target cells from a sample of cells characterized by: a) contacting the sample with a cell aggregation agent and first magnetic particles having an iron content of 0.1 pg to 5000 pg, coupled to a first antigen recognizing moiety; and second magnetic particles having an iron content of 0.05 fg to 100 fg and coupled to a second antigen recognizing moiety to obtain mixture a) b) applying a first magnetic field gradient to the mixture a) thereby removing the cells bound to the first antigen recognizing moiety coupled to the first magnetic particles, to obtain a mixture b) and obtaining an agglomerate comprising the cells of mixture a) bound to the cell aggregation agent c) applying a second magnetic field gradient to the mixture b) thereby immobilizing the cells bound to the second antigen recognizing moiety d) recovering the immobilized cells from the second magnetic field gradient as target cells.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for enriching target cells from a sample of cells characterized by: a) contacting the sample with a cell aggregation agent and first magnetic particles having an iron content of 0.1 pg to 5000 pg, coupled to a first antigen recognizing moiety; and second magnetic particles having an iron content of 0.05 fg to 100 fg and coupled to a second antigen recognizing moiety to obtain mixture a) b) applying a first magnetic field gradient to the mixture a) thereby removing the cells bound to the first antigen recognizing moiety coupled to the first magnetic particles, to obtain a mixture b) and obtaining an agglomerate comprising the cells of mixture a) bound to the cell aggregation agent c) applying a second magnetic field gradient to the mixture b) thereby immobilizing the cells bound to the second antigen recognizing moiety d) recovering the immobilized cells from the second magnetic field gradient as target cells.