| abstract |
Methods and apparatus for identifying cell populations comprising effector cells exhibiting an extracellular effect are provided. The method includes the step of retaining a plurality of cell populations in a plurality of open chambers, each optionally comprising one or more effect cells. The open chambers may each comprise readout populations, wherein the open chambers are present in the first component of the device comprising the first component and optionally the second component. The open chamber has an average aspect ratio of at least 0.6 and the first component forms a reversible seal with the second component. The method comprises incubating a plurality of cell clusters or subsets thereof, and at least one readout particle, or a subset thereof, in a chamber, analyzing the cell clusters for extracellular effects, wherein the readout particle (s) Determining whether the one or more cells in one or more of the plurality of cell populations exhibit an extracellular effect, based on the results of the analyzing step. |