The chip works in two phases, the first part of the first chip sorts out blood cells initially separating small red blood cells and platelets, thus allowing passage of only (potential) tumor cells and white blood cells. The second part of the chip implements these cells through the winding channels and organizes the cells in the "column" one after another. Magnetic particles of bacteria are glued to specific proteins on white blood cells, which are also separated from the flow and eventually only tumor cells remain that can be individually analyzed with the existing methods.

According to writing of Science magazine this technique can be used to analyze the circulation of other abnormal cells associated with other diseases, but also to explore the reasons why some tumor cells cause metastasis, and some just pass through the body without any consequences.

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