It is described a method to detect and phenotype target cells in cell suspensions by using particles coated with antibodies/ligands directed to antigenic determinants/receptors expressed on the target cells, characterized in that several types of particles, each particle coated with different antibody or ligand, are incubated simultaneously or subsequently with cell suspensions containing the target cells, in connection or not with a per se known enrichment procedure, a use of the method and a kit.