Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a suspension. A system includes a processing vessel, such as an Eppendorf tube, a syringe or a test tube, and a collector. The collector is sized and shaped to fit into a primary vessel, such as a test tube. The collector funnels the target material from the suspension through a cannula and into the processing vessel. The collector includes a funnel at a second end in fluid communication with the cannula. The cannula extends into a chamber at a first end of the collector that holds the processing vessel. In one implementation, the processing vessel is empty. In another implementation, the processing vessel includes at least one displacement fluid. In yet another implementation, the processing vessel may include at least one displacement fluid and at least one processing solution.

Abstract: Systems and methods that can be used to detect materials of interest in a suspension are disclosed. A suspension suspected of containing a material of interest and a float are added to a tube. When the tube, float and suspension are centrifuged together, the float expands the axial length of a layer that contains the material of interest between the outer surface of the main body of the float and the inner wall of the tube. The float includes features located on the main body of the float that enhance mixing of various agents to be added to the suspension. The features may also increase the flow of the suspension fluid and materials around the float during centrifugation.

Abstract: Systems and methods that can be used to detect target materials in a suspension are disclosed. A suspension suspected of containing a target material is added to a tube, and a programmable float is added to the same tube. In one aspect, the mass of the float may be programmed by selectively adding one or more objects to the float interior so that when the tube, float and suspension are centrifuged together to separate the various materials of the suspension into layers along the axial length of the tube, the float is positioned at approximately the same level as a layer that contains the target material. The float expands the axial length of the layer between the float outer surface and the inner surface of the tube.