An isolation method has been developed based on laminin-coated magnetic beads which yields human trophoblast with a high degree of purity. Immunostaining with a panel of monoclonal antibodies indicates that these trophoblast cells are mainly of the extravillous variety. The mechanism for selection may be due to the expression of surface laminin receptors by these cells. This procedure, therefore, can provide appropriate cellular targets for in vitro assays against potential uterine effectors in studies on the local trophoblast-decidual interaction.