To avoid the limitations associated with the enzymatic or mechanical passaging of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) cultured on feeder cells, we have established a fast, effective, cost-efficient, high-yield method for harvesting hESC or hiPSC colonies maintained on a feeder cell layer of human foreskin fibroblasts using EDTA-mediated dis-adhesion.