Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for detecting the presence of, the amount of, or the concentration of a substantially non-emitting metal in a sample by a) providing a sensitizer to a chelator of the substantially non-emitting metal thereby creating a sensitized-metal complex; b) adding an unsensitized chelate, and c) detecting a signal from the unsensitized chelate. The substantially non-emitting metal may be gadoliniumn and may exist in complex with a chelator. The unsensitized chelate may be terbium (Tb) or europium (Eu) and the detecting a signal may be performed by fluorescence.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for detecting the presence of, the amount of, or the concentration of a substantially non-emitting metal in a sample by a) providing a sensitizer to a chelator of the substantially non-emitting metal thereby creating a sensitized-metal complex; b) adding an unsensitized chelate, and c) detecting a signal from the unsensitized chelate. The substantially non-emitting metal may be gadoliniumn and may exist in complex with a chelator. The unsensitized chelate may be terbium (Tb) or europium (Eu) and the detecting a signal may be performed by fluorescence.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for detecting the presence of, the amount of or the concentration of a substantially non-emitting metal in a sample by a) providing a sensitizer to a chelator of the substantially non-emitting metal thereby creating a sensitized-metal complex; b) adding an unsensitized chelate, and c) detecting a signal from the unsensitized chelate. The substantially non-emitting metal may be gadolinium and may exist in complex with a chelator. The unsensitized chelate may be terbium (Tb) or europium (Eu), and the detecting a signal may be performed by fluorescence.

Abstract: Rare cells are separated from a sample fluid by a positive selection or negative selection antibody by centrifuging in a tube containing a harvesting float. The harvesting float has an axial passage and a density to settle in the sample fluid and expand the layer of the target component. The positive selection antibody is preferably coupled to a particulate carrier, such as a microbead, to attach to the target component. The negative selection antibody forms a complex or conjugate with a contaminating component. In the positive separation, the particulate carrier is recovered in the axial passage of the float.

Abstract: Rare cells are separated from a sample fluid by a positive selection or negative selection antibody by centrifuging in a tube containing a harvesting float. The harvesting float has an axial passage and a density to settle in the sample fluid and expand the layer of the target component. The antibody is preferably coupled to a particulate carrier, such as a microbead, to attach either the target component or a contaminating component to the particulate carrier. In the positive separation, the particulate carrier is recovered in the axial passage of the float.

Abstract: Rare cells are separated from a sample fluid by a positive selection or negative selection antibody by centrifuging in a tube containing a harvesting float. The harvesting float has an axial passage and a density to settle in the sample fluid and expand the layer of the target component. The antibody is preferably coupled to a particulate carrier, such as a microbead, to attach either the target component or a contaminating component to the particulate carrier. In the positive separation, the particulate carrier is recovered in the axial passage of the float.