What is "immunomagnetic separation"

n. (context biochemistry English) A laboratory technique for separating cells by means of their antigens becoming bound to antibodies coating microscopic paramagnetic beads, which can then be separated from the medium by magnetic attraction.

Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is a laboratory tool that can efficiently isolate cells out of body fluid or cultured cells. It can also be used as a method of quantifying the pathogenicity of food, blood or feces. DNA analysis have supported the combined use of both this technique and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Another laboratory separation tool is the affinity magnetic separation (AMS), which is more suitable for the isolation of prokaryotic cells.