Abstract: A method and system for detecting, manipulating and isolating circulating tumor cells found in organic fluids comprising a simplified laser assisted transfer process. A liquid specimen of the organic fluid containing an enriched population of tumor cells and a population of non-tumor cells is spread onto a donor substrate with an interlayer comprising a semi-transparent polymeric adhesive tape. A fluorescent staining of at least one of the cell populations present in the liquid specimen is required to identify-using optical and fluorescence microscopy, the location of the cells to be manipulated and/or isolated. The laser beam energy is absorbed by the polymeric adhesive tape giving place to the formation of a blister that mechanically interacts with the liquid specimen and such interaction can induce the expulsion of a portion of the liquid specimen comprising the selected tumor cells or non-tumor cells, which can be a single cell or a cell cluster, towards the receiving substrate.