The invention relates to an operating method for a microfluidic system, including the following steps: feeding of a carrier flow with particles (5) of a first particle type suspended therein into the microfluidic system; charging of a plurality of electrical field cages (1′, 1″) in the microfluidic system with the supplied particles (5) of the first particle type; the supplying of a carrier flow with particles (6) of a second particle type suspended therein into the microfluidic system; and charging the field cages (1′, 1″) in the microfluidic system with the supplied particles (6) of the second particle type in such a manner that a particle (5) of the first particle type and a particle (6) of the second particle type is present in at least one of the field cages (1′, 1′). The invention also relates to a corresponding microfluidic system.