partially reprogrammed state to a pluripotent state the method comprising identifying the pluripotency state of the cell in the presence of the agent and comparing the result to that seen in the absence of the agent in one embodiment a method is described for evaluating the ability of an agent to affect the progress of a cell from a pluripotent state to a differentiated or partially differentiated state the method comprising identifying the pluripotency state of the cell in the presence of the agent and comparing the result to that seen in the absence of the agent in one embodiment of the described methods the cell is a mammalian cell in one embodiment the cell is for example human mouse rat monkey pig dog or guinea pig in one embodiment a method is described for separating a pluripotent cell from a mixture comprising the pluripotent cell and a differentiated cell or a partially reprogrammed cell or both the method comprising contacting the mixture of cells with an antibody wherein the antibody is bound to a solid surface separating the pluripotent cell from the mixture based on it not binding to the solid surface wherein the antibody is directed towards cd44 beta 2 microglobulin endosialin cadherin 11 or colectin 12 in one embodiment the solid surface is selected from the group comprising a bead a plate or a slide in one embodiment the method results in an enriched population of pluripotent cells as compared to the mixture in one embodiment the method is performed during a reprogramming of the mixture of cells in one embodiment the method is performed on a patient sample in one embodiment the bead is.