Apparatus and method for label-free analysis of rare cells from bodily fluids

摘要

A system and method for the label-free analysis of cells includes a purification device configured to receive a heterogeneous population of cells, the purification device temporarily trapping therein a subpopulation of cells from the heterogeneous population of cells and a cell analysis device positioned downstream of the purification device and configured to measure one or more cellular parameters including cell count, measured cell size, and/or cell morphology. In an alternative embodiment, the subpopulation of cells is analyzed while they are trapped within the purification device.