A method for verifying a processing protocol associated with a slide, the method comprising: automatically obtaining information from a first identifier associated with a slide and information from a second identifier associated with a reagent cartridge (408; 1308), wherein the information obtained from the first identifier is associated with a reagent to be applied to the slide and the information obtained from the second identifier is associated with a processing protocol; associating the information obtained from the first identifier with the information obtained from the second identifier; automatically displaying the associated information to verify a correct processing protocol is associated with the slide; alerting a user in case of a mismatch between information obtained from the first identifier and information obtained from the second identifier; and generating a staining log based on the information obtained from the first identifier and the second identifier; wherein the step of automatically displaying the associated information comprises: displaying a location of the slide within a sample processing system (100; 200; 400; 1900; 2000) and information obtained from the first identifier associated with the slide in a first table (2304; 2040); displaying a location of the reagent cartridge (408; 1308) within a sample processing system (100; 200; 400; 1900; 2000) and information obtained from the second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table (2302; 2402); and juxtaposing the first table (2304; 2404) with the second table (2302; 2402) based so that information obtained from the first identifier and information obtained from the second identifier are aligned based on the location of the slide and the reagent cartridge (408; 1308). automatically obtaining information from a first identifier associated with a slide and information from a second identifier associated with a reagent cartridge (408; 1308), wherein the information obtained from the first identifier is associated with a reagent to be applied to the slide and the information obtained from the second identifier is associated with a processing protocol; associating the information obtained from the first identifier with the information obtained from the second identifier; automatically displaying the associated information to verify a correct processing protocol is associated with the slide; alerting a user in case of a mismatch between information obtained from the first identifier and information obtained from the second identifier; and generating a staining log based on the information obtained from the first identifier and the second identifier; wherein the step of automatically displaying the associated information comprises: displaying a location of the slide within a sample processing system (100; 200; 400; 1900; 2000) and information obtained from the first identifier associated with the slide in a first table (2304; 2040); displaying a location of the reagent cartridge (408; 1308) within a sample processing system (100; 200; 400; 1900; 2000) and information obtained from the second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table (2302; 2402); and juxtaposing the first table (2304; 2404) with the second table (2302; 2402) based so that information obtained from the first identifier and information obtained from the second identifier are aligned based on the location of the slide and the reagent cartridge (408; 1308). displaying a location of the slide within a sample processing system (100; 200; 400; 1900; 2000) and information obtained from the first identifier associated with the slide in a first table (2304; 2040); displaying a location of the reagent cartridge (408; 1308) within a sample processing system (100; 200; 400; 1900; 2000) and information obtained from the second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table (2302; 2402); and juxtaposing the first table (2304; 2404) with the second table (2302; 2402) based so that information obtained from the first identifier and information obtained from the second identifier are aligned based on the location of the slide and the reagent cartridge (408; 1308).