Abstract: A multistage electromagnetic separator is designed to separate magnetically susceptible materials suspended in fluids. The apparatus includes an upper plate and a lower plate set to a fill position and the fluid samples are filled into upper and lower cuvettes. The upper cuvette rotates into position above the lower cuvette aligning the upper and lower cuvettes. A translating electromagnet energizes to a programmed current level and translates from the bottom of the lower cuvette to the interface of the plates. The translating electromagnet is de-energized, and a holding electromagnet is energized to a programmed current level pulling particles within a specified mobility range into the top of the captured upper collection cuvette. The holding electromagnet is de-energized leaving the permanent holding magnet to keep the collected sample particles in the top cuvette while the upper plate rotates thereby capturing the sample of the collected particles.