A self-contained sample processing cartridge, comprising: a first cartridge portion including a slide receiver that receives a specimen slide, the slide receiver including a receiver open region that the specimen slide covers when the specimen slide is situated in the slide receiver, the first cartridge portion including a plurality of fluid inputs that are configured to receive externally supplied liquids, the first cartridge portion further including at least one fluid output; and a second cartridge portion that closes on the first cartridge portion to form a chamber interior to the cartridge, wherein the specimen slide covers the receiver open region of the slide receiver of the first cartridge portion to form both an interior surface of the chamber and an exterior surface of the first cartridge portion, the second cartridge portion including first and second opposed major surfaces of which the first opposed major surface is oriented facing away from the chamber and the second opposed major surface is oriented facing the chamber; wherein the second cartridge portion includes a plurality of channels situated extending into the first opposed major surface thereof that faces away from the chamber, the plurality of channels being configured to couple the fluid inputs of the first cartridge portion to the chamber, wherein the second cartridge portion further includes at least one output channel that couples to the at least one fluid output of the first cartridge portion; wherein at least one of the plurality of channels includes a reagent reservoir (1-2, 1-3, 1-4) configured to provide a preloaded reagent to the chamber; a gasket seal situated between the first cartridge portion and the second cartridge portion, the gasket seal further including a gasket open region that provides side walls (421-1, 422-2, 422-3, 422-4, 422-5) to the chamber, such that the gasket seal provides a vertical dimension of the chamber, the gasket seal further including respective integral fluid flow control check valves for the plurality of fluid channels, each fluid control check valve being assigned a different channel of the plurality of channels, the control check valves being configured to prevent back-flow from the chamber to the plurality of fluid inputs, wherein the chamber comprises a V-shaped output end, and wherein the gasket seal includes gasket holes (411 - 414) that mate with the plurality of fluid inputs (211 -214). a first cartridge portion including a slide receiver that receives a specimen slide, the slide receiver including a receiver open region that the specimen slide covers when the specimen slide is situated in the slide receiver, the first cartridge portion including a plurality of fluid inputs that are configured to receive externally supplied liquids, the first cartridge portion further including at least one fluid output; and a second cartridge portion that closes on the first cartridge portion to form a chamber interior to the cartridge, wherein the specimen slide covers the receiver open region of the slide receiver of the first cartridge portion to form both an interior surface of the chamber and an exterior surface of the first cartridge portion, the second cartridge portion including first and second opposed major surfaces of which the first opposed major surface is oriented facing away from the chamber and the second opposed major surface is oriented facing the chamber; wherein the second cartridge portion includes a plurality of channels situated extending into the first opposed major surface thereof that faces away from the chamber, the plurality of channels being configured to couple the fluid inputs of the first cartridge portion to the chamber, wherein the second cartridge portion further includes at least one output channel that couples to the at least one fluid output of the first cartridge portion; wherein at least one of the plurality of channels includes a reagent reservoir (1-2, 1-3, 1-4) configured to provide a preloaded reagent to the chamber; wherein the second cartridge portion includes a plurality of channels situated extending into the first opposed major surface thereof that faces away from the chamber, the plurality of channels being configured to couple the fluid inputs of the first cartridge portion to the chamber, wherein the second cartridge portion further includes at least one output channel that couples to the at least one fluid output of the first cartridge portion; wherein at least one of the plurality of channels includes a reagent reservoir (1-2, 1-3, 1-4) configured to provide a preloaded reagent to the chamber; a gasket seal situated between the first cartridge portion and the second cartridge portion, the gasket seal further including a gasket open region that provides side walls (421-1, 422-2, 422-3, 422-4, 422-5) to the chamber, such that the gasket seal provides a vertical dimension of the chamber, the gasket seal further including respective integral fluid flow control check valves for the plurality of fluid channels, each fluid control check valve being assigned a different channel of the plurality of channels, the control check valves being configured to prevent back-flow from the chamber to the plurality of fluid inputs, wherein the chamber comprises a V-shaped output end, and wherein the gasket seal includes gasket holes (411 - 414) that mate with the plurality of fluid inputs (211 -214).