Figure. Schematic diagram of MiniMACS magnetic cell separation column. (A) The solid support consists of closely packed, submillimeter spheres made of soft steel alloy. An external magnetic field magnetizes the solid support, which attracts magnetically labeled cells from a mixture applied to the column. (B) A thin slice across the solid support shows interstitial spaces available for flow of the cell mixture. (C) The unlabeled cells flow freely through the column, whereas the magnetically labeled cells are retained inside the column and could be recovered by removal of the column from the magnetic field, followed by elution. Reprinted with permission of the Cleveland Clinic, 2007.