A process and system for handling biological tissue samples through work stations in which at least one work stations includes a plurality of independent work locations. The handling system includes a main transport apparatus operatively connected to input and output stations and to the work stations for moving bidirectionally the samples among these; a plurality of secondary transport apparatuses operatively connected to the main transport apparatus and each respectively operatively connected to independent work locations of one of the work stations and configured to move bidirectionally the samples among these; and a control arrangement of the transport apparatuses for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work stations according to a work protocol associated with the samples and for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work locations according to a workload of the work locations and the work protocol associated with the samples.

A smear system includes smear preparing apparatus that prepares a smear slide and a smear transporting apparatus that transports the smear slide to a smear-image capture apparatus. The smear preparing apparatus includes: a smear preparation part that smears a sample on a slide; and a smear arrangement part that places smear slides in a smear container. The smear transporting apparatus includes: a smear-container transport part that transports the smear container with the smear slides; an identification-information acquisition part that acquires identification information on whether image capturing by the smear-image capture apparatus is necessary, from each of the smear slides accommodated in the smear container positioned on a transport path of the smear-container transport part; and a smear transfer part that transfers the smear slide whose image is to be captured to the smear-image capture apparatus on the basis of the identification information acquired by the identification-information acquisition part.

The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for handling slides. The apparatus includes a carrier comprising a retention hole and a cartridge having a case coupled to one or more separators that together define a plurality of compartments each configured to accept the carrier. At least one of the separators comprises a guide hole, with all guide holes are disposed on a first axis. The retention hole of the carrier is aligned with the first axis when the carrier is disposed in a seated position within one of the compartments. The cartridge also comprises a plurality of spacers each partially disposed within at least one of the guide holes.

A microscope system may comprise a plurality of microscope modules, a cassette for holding a plurality of slides, a slide loader configured to move the plurality of slides between the cassette and the plurality of microscope modules, and a processor coupled to the slide loader. The processor may be configured with instructions which, when executed, cause the slide loader to move a slide into or from a selected microscope module among the plurality of microscope modules. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

The device for the storage and traceability of biological specimens placed in holders is provided with identification information in the form of encoded data. The device includes at least one tray provided with a plurality of cells for the storage of the holders provided with storage housings for the holders, at least one apparatus for reading encoded data and determining data relative to the location of each holder within the receptacle, and a computerized processor for the data read and determined by the apparatus. The is a device for recognizing an empty housing within the receptacle defined by a detector for a physical characteristic of the bottom of the cell or an element secured to this bottom.

The present disclosure is directed to opposables including a body having a plurality of cavities disposed therein. Each cavity can be designed to contain one or more reagents, liquids, or fluids which may be applied to a specimen-bearing surface. In some embodiments, the cavities include one or more reagent chambers, the reagent chambers can have one or more seals such that the reagents, liquids, or fluids contained therein may be stored and released to the specimen-bearing surface.

Automated system configured to perform and methods for performing one or more slide processing operations on slides bearing biological samples. The system and methods enable high sample throughput while also minimizing or limiting the potential for cross-contamination of slides. The automated systems can include features that facilitate consistency, controllability of processing time, and/or processing temperature.

A cell smearing apparatus comprising: a mixed solution container accommodation unit accommodating a mixed solution container containing a mixed solution of cells and a preservation solution; a suction unit suctioning the mixed solution from the mixed solution container accommodated in the mixed solution container accommodation unit; a sensor unit sensing variation of the mixed solution suctioned by the suction unit; and a controller controlling a suctioning speed of the suction unit based on a value sensed by the sensor unit. The present invention allows cells to be examined to be smeared as a monolayer on a slide for microscopic examination.

Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.

Devices and methods for providing and dispensing opposables onto slides are provided in which magazines loaded with opposables include retention arms to reduce movement of the opposables during shipment and processing and to reduce or eliminate contamination.