System and method for retrieving and analyzing particles

A method comprising:

• imaging a substrate comprising a plurality of wells;
• identifying, based at least in part on the imaging, a well containing a target particle;
• aligning a particle extractor with the identified well;
• and
• retrieving the target particle from the identified well into the particle extractor;
• wherein the plurality of wells comprises microwells or nanowells.

A system comprising:

• a stage configured to support a substrate that comprises a plurality of wells;
• a particle extractor;
• an imager configured to image the substrate;
• and
• a processor configured to align the particle extractor with a target well of the plurality of wells for retrieval of a target particle;
• wherein the plurality of wells comprises microwells or nanowells.