Immunicon's CellTracks AutoPrep System Combines Blood Samples With a Chemical Substance, Making Tumor Cells Stand Out

Immunicon's CellTracks AutoPrep System provides automated sample processing for cellular enrichment.

The CellTracks AutoPrep System dispenses a blood sample into the disposable cartridge while it is inside the MagNest cell presentation device, a magnetic fixture that moves the ferrofluid-labeled cells to the analytical surface of the reaction chamber. The MagNest device is designed to exert a magnetic field that causes the magnetically labeled cells to move to the surface of the reaction chamber inside the cartridge. They are then ready to be scanned on the CellTracks Analyzer II.

The CellTracks Analyzer II has the capability of analyzing up to six fluorescent channels. Scan time is less than 10 minutes. This system identifies targeted fluorescent objects and presents them to the operator in a gallery.

The EasyCount System, for cell viability, also uses core CellTracks technology. This smaller system provides automated cell counting of live and dead nucleated cells based on fluorescent microscopy. This application is targeted for the life science market and replaces manual counting of cells under a microscope by an operator.

The EasyCount System also has the capability of immunomagnetic presentation to enable counting of relatively rare cell counts. Immunicon is applying the EasyCount technology into other laboratory applications where cell counting can be automated.

Immunicon is leveraging its technological experience in immunomagnetic enrichment, fluorescent staining and imaging for counting rare cells events. They collaborate with many academic and business partners to further this technology in the automation of cell counting. There are many other areas for this diagnostic application that they are investigating, so that patients and the medical community can benefit from Immunicon's technology.