Abstract: A method that enables handling whole blood for assays where the whole blood is directly taken from a patient without any prior treatment and being put in a collection tube or other container ready to use for further analysis. The method can enable simple processing of the whole blood while avoiding any clots or aggregates and without damaging white cells in a reproducible and automatable way. The method can furthermore enable an automatic and reproducible pipetting of whole blood cells inside several wells to be tested.

Abstract: A method for detecting an immune cellular response including the steps of: (a) suctioning a defined amount of the sample by an automated suction/discharge device, (b) discharging this amount, using the device, into container R, containing, beforehand, at least one stimulant for secretion of the molecule by the at least one cell, or else not containing such a stimulant, (c) when the container does not contain the stimulant beforehand, introducing into container R the at least one secretion stimulant contained in container E, using the device, and (d) allowing the sample and stimulant to incubate, forming a mixture, by the at least one cell (i) in container R or (ii) in another container S after suctioning and discharge of the mixture using the device, and (e) detecting the immune cellular response, the detection of the immune cellular response indicates the presence of an immune cellular response specific for the stimulant.