Methods for purifying biological cells

A method for purifying viable cells, comprised of:

• a) providing at least one fritted column, wherein the fritted column is comprised of a packed bed of medium, wherein the packed bed of medium has a bed volume, wherein the packed bed of medium is retained between two frits, wherein the packed bed of medium is comprised of particles, wherein the particles are comprised of an affinity group, wherein the affinity group is an antibody or a FAB;
• b) providing a biological sample, wherein the sample is comprised of viable cells, wherein the viable cells are not labeled with antibodies, wherein the biological sample has a sample volume, wherein the sample volume is larger than the bed volume;
• c) aspirating the biological sample through the fritted column, wherein the sample is aspirated through the packed bed of medium;
• d) expelling the biological sample by reversing the flow direction, wherein the biological sample is expelled through the packed bed of medium;
• e) repeating steps (c) and (d) multiple times, wherein the biological sample is not incubated on the fritted column, whereby a portion of the viable cells are captured by the affinity groups on the particles in the packed bed of medium;
• f) passing a wash solution through the fritted column;
• and
• g) eluting the cells by passing an eluent through the fritted column, wherein the eluted cells are intact and viable, wherein the eluted cells maintain their integrity, wherein the method is at least partially performed by a timed computer-controlled program, and wherein the entire method is performed in less than one hour.