An automated staining system, comprising: a consumable microfluidic slide processing module configured to be installed in a staining instrument and including a plurality of reagent elements , and a flow cell connected to the plurality of reagent elements and including a slide-receiving region dimensioned to receive a microscope slide , and a cover having a gasket positioned to sealingly contact a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber that is between the cover and the specimen-bearing surface and surrounded by the gasket , and wherein when the consumable microfluidic slide processing module is installed in the staining instrument, the staining instrument is operable to cause reagent from a reagent reservoir at a respective one of the reagent elements to be delivered to the reaction chamber , characterized in that the consumable microfluidic slide processing module has one or more valves configured to allow the reagent to be delivered to the reaction chamber and to inhibit fluid from flowing out of the reaction chamber to increase a boiling point of the reagent within the reaction chamber . a consumable microfluidic slide processing module configured to be installed in a staining instrument and including a plurality of reagent elements , and a flow cell connected to the plurality of reagent elements and including a slide-receiving region dimensioned to receive a microscope slide , and a cover having a gasket positioned to sealingly contact a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber that is between the cover and the specimen-bearing surface and surrounded by the gasket , and wherein when the consumable microfluidic slide processing module is installed in the staining instrument, the staining instrument is operable to cause reagent from a reagent reservoir at a respective one of the reagent elements to be delivered to the reaction chamber , a plurality of reagent elements , and a flow cell connected to the plurality of reagent elements and including a slide-receiving region dimensioned to receive a microscope slide , and a cover having a gasket positioned to sealingly contact a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber that is between the cover and the specimen-bearing surface and surrounded by the gasket , and wherein when the consumable microfluidic slide processing module is installed in the staining instrument, the staining instrument is operable to cause reagent from a reagent reservoir at a respective one of the reagent elements to be delivered to the reaction chamber , a slide-receiving region dimensioned to receive a microscope slide , and a cover having a gasket positioned to sealingly contact a specimen-bearing surface of the microscope slide to define a reaction chamber that is between the cover and the specimen-bearing surface and surrounded by the gasket , and wherein when the consumable microfluidic slide processing module is installed in the staining instrument, the staining instrument is operable to cause reagent from a reagent reservoir at a respective one of the reagent elements to be delivered to the reaction chamber , characterized in that the consumable microfluidic slide processing module has one or more valves configured to allow the reagent to be delivered to the reaction chamber and to inhibit fluid from flowing out of the reaction chamber to increase a boiling point of the reagent within the reaction chamber . <EOS>