A system for making cell blocks, comprising: a cell block cassette, comprising a main body having a collection aperture formed therein, and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter; and a cell block processing station, comprising a cell block cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, a sensor positioned or positionable to detect a fluid level in the collection well, an automated fluid delivery system operable to dispense fluids into the collection well, and a controller operatively coupled to the fluid delivery system, wherein the controller causes the fluid delivery system to selectively dispense fluids into the collection well based, at least in part, on a flow rate across the filter that is determined based on a change in fluid level in the collection well detected by the sensor, and a waste chamber underlying the cell block cassette interface, the waste chamber comprising an interior and a sealable interface that engages a sealing surface of the filter assembly when the cell block cassette is seated in the cassette interface, and wherein the waste chamber comprises a heated valve assembly controllable to evacuate liquid and solid waste contained in the waste chamber interior. a cell block cassette, comprising a main body having a collection aperture formed therein, and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter; and a main body having a collection aperture formed therein, and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter; and a cell block processing station, comprising a cell block cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, a sensor positioned or positionable to detect a fluid level in the collection well, an automated fluid delivery system operable to dispense fluids into the a cell block cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, a sensor positioned or positionable to detect a fluid level in the collection well, an automated fluid delivery system operable to dispense fluids into the collection well, and a controller operatively coupled to the fluid delivery system, wherein the controller causes the fluid delivery system to selectively dispense fluids into the collection well based, at least in part, on a flow rate across the filter that is determined based on a change in fluid level in the collection well detected by the sensor, and a waste chamber underlying the cell block cassette interface, the waste chamber comprising an interior and a sealable interface that engages a sealing surface of the filter assembly when the cell block cassette is seated in the cassette interface, and wherein the waste chamber comprises a heated valve assembly controllable to evacuate liquid and solid waste contained in the waste chamber interior.