A slide transport system for an automated slide treatment apparatus having slide treatment modules for receiving slides and a fluid dispensing robot configured by a controller to dispense reagents to the slides is disclosed. The slide transport system includes a slide transport robot configured by the controller to move the slides to and from the slide treatment modules and a slide transport device disposed on the slide transport robot and configured by the controller to releasably hold the slides. A slide handling head on the slide transport robot moves a closure body of a slide treatment module from a normally closed to an open position to move slides in the slide treatment module. The slide transport device is configured by the controller to release a slide when located in the slide treatment module, when the closure body is in the open position.
