IN SITU HEAT INDUCED ANTIGEN RECOVERY AND STAINING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

An automated in situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method and apparatus for treating a plurality of microscope slides. The process of heat induced antigen recovery and the process of staining the biological sample on the microscope slide are conducted in the same apparatus, wherein the microscope slides do not need to be physically removed from one apparatus to another. Each treatment step occurs within the same reaction compartment. The reaction conditions of each reaction compartment for treating a slide can preferably be controlled independently, including the individualized application of reagents to each slide and the individualized treatment of each slide.

主权项

1. A method of treating biological samples, comprising:
placing a first microscope slide on a first slide support element with the first microscope slide having a first biological sample disposed thereon; placing a second microscope slide on a second slide support element with the second microscope slide having a second biological sample disposed thereon; horizontally moving the first slide support into a treatment chamber of an antigen recovery and staining apparatus so as to position the first microscope slide and the first biological sample in the treatment chamber; horizontally moving the second slide support into the treatment chamber of the antigen recovery and staining apparatus so as to position the second microscope slide and the second biological sample in the treatment chamber; treating the first biological sample by applying a first reagent to the first biological sample, heating the first reagent to a desired temperature for a desired period of time, and applying additional reagents of a treatment protocol; treating the second biological sample by applying a second reagent to the second biological sample, heating the second reagent to a desired temperature for a desired period of time, and applying additional reagents of another treatment protocol; determining if one of the first biological sample and the second biological sample has completed the treatment protocol; and removing the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the treatment chamber while the other biological sample continues to be treated in the treatment chamber, wherein the step of removing the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the treatment chamber comprises the steps of:
horizontally moving the slide support out of the treatment chamber of the antigen recovery and staining apparatus so as to position the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol outside of the treatment chamber; andremoving the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the slide support element.