Abstract: The invention provides methods for isolating a fluorochrome-antibody conjugate from an aqueous mixture of the conjugate and unconjugated fluorochrome. The method involves contacting the mixture with a water insoluble stationary phase having a metal ion chelated thereto and binding the conjugate to the stationary phase. The phase containing bound conjugate is then washed to remove unbound fluorochrome. Thereafter the conjugate is eluted from the stationary phase and recovered in a form substantially free of the unconjugated fluorochrome.

Abstract: The invention relates to the detection and determination of erythrocytopathies and hemoglobinopathies. The invention provides a method for distinguishing between subsets of red blood cells in a sample involving contacting the sample with at least a first marker reagent reactive with a first component of a red blood cell and with at least a second marker reagent reactive with a second component of a red blood cell and determining the reactivity of the marker reagents with the cells.