The bead-organism complex is resuspended in hydrochloric acid. The new suspension is vigorously vortexed which breaks the bonds of the complexes, freeing the organisms. The acidic solution prevents the bead-organism complexes from reforming.
The beads are separated from the suspension containing the (oo)cysts with the magnet. The suspension is carefully removed from the microcentrifuge tube with a pipette leaving behind the beads. The beads have been dissociated from the organisms to prevent their interference with microscopy.