Methods for distinguishing particles in a fluid sample
Methods for distinguishing particles in a fluid sample are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes acquiring a background SIMI image and a background brightfield image of a membrane filter while the membrane filter is free of a fluid sample, introducing a fluid sample onto the membrane filter, acquiring a SIMI image and a brightfield image of filtered particles resting on the membrane filter, distinguishing between the filtered particulates and the membrane filter based on the background SIMI image, generating a particle mask based on the SIMI image, and detecting beads via the particle mask. Methods for distinguishing particulates include distinguishing between viable and non-viable cell populations, distinguishing between cellular and non-cellular particulates, distinguishing between biological and non-biological particulates, distinguishing between first and second protein types, determining stability of monoclonal antibody drugs, identifying beads in a cell therapy, and detecting bacteria.
1. A method for identifying beads in a cell therapy sample comprises:
acquiring a background SIMI image and a background brightfield image of a membrane filter while the membrane filter is free of a fluid sample;
introducing a fluid sample onto the membrane filter;
acquiring a SIMI image and a brightfield image of filtered particles resting on the membrane filter;
distinguishing between the filtered particulates and the membrane filter based on the background SIMI image;
generating a particle mask based on the SIMI image; and
detecting beads via the particle mask.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beads are polymer-coated metallic beads.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell therapy sample comprises cellular particulates and non-cellular particulates.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of distinguishing between beads and remaining cellular and non-cellular particulates further comprises identifying scattered light of a predetermined size.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of distinguishing between beads and remaining cellular and non-cellular particulates further comprises identifying scattered light of a predetermined shape.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined shape is spherical.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the spherical shape has a diameter of substantially 5 microns.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein further comprising:
identifying beads that are positioned within cellular material.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
identifying beads that are positioned underneath cellular material.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of distinguishing between beads and remaining cellular and non-cellular particulates further comprises identifying scattered light above a predetermined black color threshold.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell therapy sample is free of fluorescence stain.