Assays with primary cells

1 . A method of assaying primary cells, comprising:

selecting a compartment configured to hold a volume of fluid and having a support surface configured to support the volume;

connecting a set of primary cells to one or more particles;

placing the one or more particles and the set of primary cells in the compartment so that a substantial portion of the set of primary cells is disposed at a substantially higher density adjacent the one or more particles than adjacent the entire support surface; and

detecting a signal from the compartment corresponding to an aspect of the primary cells.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting includes a step of selecting a well of a microplate.

3 . The method claim 1 , wherein the step of connecting is performed before the step of placing.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of placing includes placing two or more sets of primary cells in the compartment so that each of the two or more sets is connected to a different type of particle.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein each type of particle has a code.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of detecting a signal includes (1) a step of detecting one or more signals for each set of primary cells, and (2) a step of relating the one or more signals to the corresponding set of primary cells by identifying the different type of particle to which the corresponding set is connected.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of exposing the set of primary cells to a potential modulator of unknown clinical effect in the compartment.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of exposing the set of primary cells to a potential modulator of known clinical effect in the compartment.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of placing disposes the set of primary cells at a substantially higher density in the one or more particles than in, on, or about the entire support surface.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of placing disposes the set of primary cells at a substantially higher density on the one or more particles than in, on, or about the entire support surface.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of incubating the primary cells until they attain or exceed a preselected degree of confluence, after the step of connecting the cells to the particles, and before the step of detecting a signal.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of connecting includes connecting the cells to the particles at a degree of confluence that equals or exceeds a preselected level.

13 . The method of claim 1 , the particles including a detection area from which the signal is detected, wherein the density of cells in the detection area equals or exceeds a preselected level.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cells cover at least about 25% of the detection area.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the cells cover at least about 50% of the detection area.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the cells cover at least about 75% of the detection area.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of selecting the set of primary cells from at least one human subject with cancer, prior to the step of connecting the primary cells to particles.

18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of selecting the set of primary cells from at least one human subject with diabetes, prior to the step of connecting the primary cells to particles.

19 . A method of assaying primary cells, comprising:

selecting a compartment configured to hold a continuous volume of fluid and having one or more walls that divide the compartment into separate sub-compartments;

placing a set of primary cells selectively into a subset of the sub-compartments, such that the set of primary cells is disposed at a substantially higher density in the subset of the sub-compartments than in other regions of the compartment and such that the sub-compartments are in fluidic isolation from one another;

adding fluid to one or more of the sub-compartments after the step of disposing until all of the sub-compartments are disposed in fluidic communication; and

detecting a signal from the compartment corresponding to an aspect of the primary cells.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of selecting a compartment includes a step of selecting a well of a microplate, and wherein the well is divided into sub-wells.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of placing is performed with the subset of sub-compartments in fluidic isolation from other sub-compartments of the compartment.

22 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising a step of exposing the subset of sub-compartments to a potential modulator after the step of placing and before the step of detecting.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of exposing is performed with the subset of sub-compartments in fluidic communication with other sub-compartments of the compartment.

24 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising a step of incubating the primary cells until they attain or exceed a preselected degree of confluence, after the step of placing the cells, and before the step of detecting a signal.

25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of placing includes placing the cells in the subcompartments at a degree of confluence that equals or exceeds a preselected level.

26 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising a step of exposing the set of primary cells to a potential modulator of unknown clinical effect in the compartment.

27 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising a step of exposing the set of primary cells to a potential modulator of known clinical effect in the compartment.

28 . The method of claim 19 , the sub-compartments including a detection area from which the signal is detected, wherein the density of cells in the detection area equals or exceeds a preselected level.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the cells cover at least about 25% of the detection area.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the cells cover at least about 50% of the detection area.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the cells cover at least about 75% of the detection area.

32 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising a step of selecting the set of primary cells from at least one human subject with cancer, prior to the step of connecting the primary cells to particles.

33 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising a step of selecting the set of primary cells from at least one human subject with diabetes, prior to the step of connecting the primary cells to particles.