A laboratory prototype of a flow cell sorter based on magnetic quadrupole f
ield was built and evaluated. The magnetic force acting on magnetically lab
eled cells in such a field has a 'centrifugal' character which provides a b
asis for the design of a continuous separation process. The sorter was test
ed on a model cell system of human peripheral lymphocytes labeled with magn
etic colloid. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv
ed.