In this report we describe the generation of complement (C') fixing IgG2b CD19 and CD22 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by the isolation of immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch variants using a simple and efficient method for the selection of spontaneously mutating hybridomas. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of C'-mediated cytolysis vs immunomagnetic (IB) depletion of tumor cells from mixtures of malignant B cells and normal bone marrow. In a clonogenic assay employing the B-cell lines Namalwa and OCI.LY1, we found that the use of immunomagnetic beads warranted a highly efficient tumor cell removal independent of the Ig isotype of the mAbs used. Elimination of up to 4 log was achieved using a cocktail consisting of CD19, CD20, CD22 and CD37 B-cell mAbs. A less efficient killing of 2 log was obtained by C' lysis using IgM mAbs, while only about 1 log tumor cell elimination was obtained using IgG2b mAbs. Immunomagnetic purging, besides being more effective than C'-mediated cytolysis, is easier to handle and more rapid.