Abstract: A process for detecting cells involves applying a liquid, cell-containing sample to a porous support so that the cells enter the support pores and are retained by a cell-specific binding molecule on the pore surface and, optionally after the cells are detectably labeled, performing an optical read-out by high density imaging the entire porous support volume using an optical system having an optical axis that runs in the direction of sample flow.

Abstract: A process for detecting cells from a sample, comprising the following steps: (a) applying the sample or a fraction of the sample in liquid phase in a direction of flow to a porous, generally two-dimensional support with pores having on the surface thereof at least one binding molecule specific for the cells to be detected or for fragments of such cells; (b) allowing the cells to be detected or of fragments of such cells to enter from the sample or sample fraction into the pores of said porous, generally two-dimensional support, said pores having such a mean pore size that the cells or fragments to be detected are able to enter into the pores; (c) retaining the cells or fragments to be detected by at least one binding molecule specific for the cells or fragments to be detected; (d) performing an optical read-out method on said substantially two-dimensional support by an imaging method, optionally after the cells or cell fragments to be detected have been labeled with a labeling agent; wherein (e) the optica