Tissue sample cassettes for receiving tissue samples may include a lower tray, an absorbent substrate, dividers defining elongated compartments over the absorbent substrate, and a cover configured to hold at least one tissue sample in place over the absorbent substrate in at least one corresponding elongated compartment defined by the dividers between the absorbent substrate and the cover. Related systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

A method of sample processing that includes a step of prompting, at a user interface of a sample processing instrument, a user to enter a user input based on first information transmitted from an RFID transponder disposed on a receptacle holder within the sample processing instrument. The user input indicates second information about the receptacle holder. The method of sample processing further includes a step of receiving, at the user interface of the sample processing instrument, the user input. The Method of sample processing further includes a step of processing, using the sample processing instrument, a sample based on the user input.

A cartridge includes a sample inlet, a first fluidic chamber in communication with the sample inlet and in contact with a first plurality of capture molecules, a first waveguide structurally configured to be optically coupled to a first illumination beam of electromagnetic energy, wherein the first waveguide has a first refractive index, a second fluidic chamber separate from the first fluidic chamber, the second fluidic chamber in fluid communication with the sample inlet and in contact with a second plurality of capture molecules, and a second waveguide structurally configured to be optically coupled to a second illumination beam of electromagnetic energy, wherein the second waveguide has a second refractive index that is different than the first refractive index.