Table 3 Ookinete yield from the magnetised column using different needle sizes. Ookinetes were separated from the remaining blood culture using the magnetized column with varying needle sizes to reduce the speed of blood flow. Ookinete yield is expressed as a percentage of the pre-separation density, calculated from pooled blood from four mice, n = 4 experiments. All three needles were used in conjunction with the accompanying column plunger, and the most effective needle in terms of yield and lack of contaminants, 23G, was also assessed without using the plunger. * = mean values with different letters are significantly different (ANOVA, p < 0.05)

From: Isolation of Plasmodium berghei ookinetes in culture using Nycodenz density gradient columns and magnetic isolation