Patent ID: 8663991

Claim:
An automated method for processing a plurality of slides bearing biological tissue samples, comprising: performing a set of slide processing operations on the plurality of slides in one or more workstations while the slides in the plurality are held in spatially co-planar, substantially horizontal positions in a slide tray, wherein the set of slide processing operations includes at least staining samples on the slides in the spatially co-planar, substantially horizontal positions by flowing one or more stains from at least one reagent container, through a fluidics module, and out at least one dispense nozzle positioned above the slide tray, and solvent-exchanging; transporting the slide tray holding the plurality of slides to an automated coverslipper workstation after performing the set of slide processing operations that include at least staining and solvent-exchange; coverslipping the plurality of slides held in the slide tray with separate respective coverslips using the automated coverslipper workstation while the plurality of slides are held in spatially co-planar, substantially horizontal positions in the slide tray such that the coverslips on the slides are spaced apart from one another; and removing the slide tray holding the coverslipped slides from the automated coverslipper workstation.