An automated microscope slide staining system and staining apparatus and method that features a plurality of individually operable miniaturized pressurizable reaction compartments or a pressurizable common chamber for individually and independently processing a plurality of microscope slides. The apparatus preferably features independently movable slide support elements each having an individually operable heating element.

A smear preparing apparatus that operates under selectable operation modes, may include: a smearing unit that prepares smeared slides by smearing samples onto slides; a staining unit that is capable of housing the smeared slides and that performs staining processing by accommodating a staining solution used to stain the samples on the housed smeared slides; a fluid circuit that supplies the staining solution to the staining unit; and a controller that controls the supplying of the staining solution to the staining unit depending on a selected one of the operation modes.

Disclosed herein are formulations, substrates, and arrays. Also disclosed herein are methods for manufacturing and using the formulations, substrates, and arrays. Also disclosed are methods for identifying peptide sequences useful for diagnosis and treatment of disorders, and methods for using the peptide sequences for diagnosis and treatment of disorders, e.g., celiac disorder. In certain embodiments, substrates and arrays comprise a porous layer for synthesis and attachment of polymers or biomolecules.

A slide processing apparatus controls the temperature and orientation of a microscope slide carrying one or more specimens. The apparatus heats the specimen-bearing microscope slide while the slide is oriented to both facilitate adhesion between the specimens and the slide and control movement of the specimens relative to the microscope slide. A slide dryer of the apparatus conductively heats the specimens using a conductive slide heater that physically engages the microscope slide.

Systems and methods that enable automated spray deposition of biological specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated specimen deposition systems and methods of generating high-quality, reproducible specimen-bearing microscope slides in automated processing systems.

A chip for biochemical reactions comprising: a first body including a plurality of first through openings arranged according to an arrangement pattern; a second body, having a hydrophilic surface, coupled to the first body on the hydrophilic surface; and an intermediate layer, which extends over the hydrophilic surface and forms a coupling interface between the first and the second bodies. The intermediate layer is of hydrophobic material, extends continuously over the hydrophilic surface, and has a plurality of second through openings through which respective regions of the hydrophilic surface are exposed. The hydrophilic regions may be functionalized for carrying out a PCR.

Method and compositions using transition metal salts and/or ammonium chloride to liberate toxins and other molecules from cyanobacteria, useful for assaying for total cyanobacterial toxins in lakes, reservoirs and other waters.

A method for conducting environmental sampling includes determining to environmentally sample a particular paper transit ticket for a specific residue. Using an automated ticket device, at least one chemical reagent is applied to the particular paper transit ticket. The chemical reagent is selected based on the specific residue. The particular paper transit ticket is collected after the particular paper transit ticket was used as a fare media within a transit system. The at least one chemical reagent is analyzed to determine whether any of the specific residue is present.

A smear preparing apparatus according to one or more embodiments includes: a first transporter that transports a storage tool in a first direction, the storage tool capable of holding microscope slides side by side in the first direction; a slide transfer unit that transfers a microscope slide having a stained sample to the storage tool transported by the first transporter; and a second transporter that is adjacent to the first transporter and that transports the storage tool housing the microscope slide transferred by the slide transfer unit, in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Disclosed herein are methods for collecting data from chip arrays and for piecewise real-time scanning and stitching of said data. Such arrays can comprise a plurality of microarrays, each microarray comprising biomolecular features that are attached to a surface of the microarray.