1. ¹Department of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
2. ²Child Health Research Institute, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Correspondence: Professor Don M Roberton, Department of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia. Email: don.roberton@adelaide.edu.au

Received 19 November 2002; Accepted 16 January 2003.

Abstract

Cell separation techniques are important in immunology. Major cell populations can be separated successfully with high purity. However, isolation of cells which are specific for particular antigens is more challenging because of the relatively small numbers of antigen-specific cells, and the lack of independent markers available to determine the purity of the isolated population. In this review, the literature describing three principal techniques used to separate antigen-specific cells has been reviewed. Particular emphasis has been placed on yield and purity; the two most important parameters of any purification method. The most promising isolation methods have used immunomagnetic sorting and multiparametric flow cytometric analysis.