Cell suspension chamber process

Claim 1

A process for concentrating cells present in serosanguineous body fluids comprising: (a) introducing a sample of a serosanguineous body fluid, containing excess body fluid, into the elongated inner chamber of an apparatus comprising: (1) a body comprising: (i) an elongated inner chamber for receiving body fluids containing cells to be concentrated, said inner chamber being provided with an inlet opening at one end thereof through which body fluids can be introduced into said inner chamber, and an outlet opening at the opposite end of said inner chamber, and (ii) an outer chamber disposed about said inner chamber in spaced relationship thereto to form a housing for said inner chamber; (2) a cap portion removably engageable with said body portion at said outlet opening of said inner chamber, said cap portion having an opening therein communicating with said outlet opening of said inner chamber through which excess fluid within said inner chamber can be removed, and (3) a filter, interposed between said opening in said cap portion and said outlet opening in said inner chamber of said body portion, for retaining cells within said inner chamber while permitting excess fluid to be removed from said inner chamber, and permitting said excess body fluid to pass through said filter and be removed from said inner chamber, leaving a concentrated cell fluid in said inner chamber; (b) adding a hemolytic solution to said concentrated cell fluid in said inner chamber; (c) withdrawing and reintroducing the combined fluids from step (b) into said inner chamber at least once; (d) adding a physiologic saline solution to said combined fluids in said inner chamber, and (e) withdrawing and reintroducing into said inner chamber the combined fluids from step (d) at least once, during which process any cells on said filter are washed off into said combined fluids, the fluid remaining within said inner chamber being a concentrate solution of cells capable of being analyzed.