Sample holder with magnetic base and magnetisable body

A sample holder comprising:

• a magnetic base comprising one or more high gradient magnets;
• and
• a body which is mountable on the magnetic base and demountable therefrom, the body comprising an array of sample holding portions and at least one magnetisable member, the magnetisable member magnetically urged towards the magnetic base when the body is seated on the magnetic base, and wherein the same one or more high gradient magnets comprised in the magnetic base apply a magnetic force to a sample comprising magnetically labelled particles in a nonmagnetic medium and also magnetically urge the body to remain seated on the magnetic base when the sample holder is inverted;
• wherein the body comprises two opposed arms, each containing a row of the array of sample holding portions, and wherein the opposed arms are interconnected at an upper portion thereof by a bridge portion adapted to be seated on the base;
• wherein the bridge portion comprises the at least one magnetisable member.