Magnetic particle transfer device and method

A method for transferring a substance immobilized to microparticles from a first vessel to a second vessel, wherein the microparticles are of magnetic or magnetizable material or the microparticles are attached to a magnetic or magnetizable body, comprising

• stretching an extendible membrane by releasably pressing a magnet against a first side of said membrane,
• capturing said microparticles on a second side of said membrane by submerging said magnet in said first vessel containing said microparticles, such that the membrane pressed against the magnet's surface separates the magnet from the microparticles but does not substantially weaken the magnetic field directed at the microparticles,
• transferring the magnet along with the microparticles captured thereupon to the second vessel, and
• releasing the microparticles from said second side of said membrane by withdrawing said magnet from said membrane.

A method for modifying nucleic acid with a nucleic acid modifying enzyme, comprising

• transferring the enzyme immobilized on microparticles into a reaction vessel where the modification of the nucleic acid is to take place, and
• removing the immobilized enzyme from the reaction vessel by a method comprising
• stretching an extendible membrane by releasably pressing a magnet against a first side of said membrane,
• capturing said microparticles on a second side of said membrane by submerging said magnet in a first vessel containing said microparticles, such that the membrane pressed against the magnet's surface separates the magnet from the microparticles but does not substantially weaken the magnetic field directed at the microparticles,
• transferring the magnet along with the microparticles captured thereupon to the second vessel, and
• releasing the microparticles from said second side of said membrane by withdrawing said magnet from said membrane.

A method for transferring nucleic acid from one vessel to another, comprising

• transferring microparticles, on which the nucleic acid is to be bound, into a reaction vessel wherein the nucleic acid is bound to the microparticles, and
• removing the microparticles from the reaction vessel by a method comprising
• stretching an extendible membrane by releasably pressing a magnet against a first side of said membrane,
• capturing said microparticles on a second side of said membrane by submerging said magnet in a first vessel containing said microparticles, such that the membrane pressed against the magnet's surface separates the magnet from the microparticles but does not substantially weaken the magnetic field directed at the microparticles,
• transferring the magnet along with the microparticles captured thereupon to the second vessel, and
• releasing the microparticles from said second side of said membrane by withdrawing said magnet from said membrane.