An improved method for the isolation of islets from the beef and pig pancreas Is described. The procedure involves the use of strips of Velcro that retain the partially-digested collagen during the isolation of islets by the collagenase technique. The spiny portion of the Velcro Is ideally suited to retain the collagen and yet permit the separation of islets from the pancreatic parenchyma. A remarkably high yield of islets has been obtained from the beef and pig pancreas USing this procedure.