OPERATOR INDEPENDENT PROGRAMMABLE SAMPLE PREPARATION AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM

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The present invention provides a protocol and apparatus for enriching circulating tumor cells and other rare cells from blood, including debris an d other components, from samples with high precision and at high throughput rates. This invention discloses an improved processing system from previousl y described semi-automated sample processing. The system further reduces operator intervention and hands-on time from prior systems. While this syste m has general utility in processing diverse materials, the system is configure d for sample processing of biological specimens to provide an enriched fractio n suitable for detection, enumeration and identification of target cells by appropriate analytical methodologies. The presence and quantities of such target cells in a sample specimen can utilized for screening and detection i n disease such as cancer, assessing early stage pre-metastatic cancer, monitoring for disease remission in response to therapy and selection of mor e effective dose regimens or alternative therapies in case of relapse.