AN AUTOMATED SAMPLE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF AUTOMATED TREATING OF SAMPLES AND USE OF SUCH APPARATUS

摘要

An automated staining apparatus (1) and a method for treating samples arranged on carrier means (7) is disclosed, in which portions of two or more selected reagents from a first station (2) containing the reagents are collected individually by means of a robot arm (20) handling a probe (10) and dispensed in a mixing station (9) of the apparatus. After mixing the reagents in the mixing station (9) , e.g. by shaking or rotating the mixing cup containing the reagents, the reagent mixture is applied to selected samples by means of the robot arm (20) and a probe.(10) .By providing a staining apparatus having an automated mixer integrated therein, staining or treatment processes requiring a mixture of unmixable reagents, such as a water based and an oil based reagent, or insoluble reagents, can be performed automatically instead of requiring human interaction or manual performance of some process steps in a much more automated process, and the quality of the staining process may be improved as a desired degree of mixing of reagents may be provided or an optimal application time window for a deteriorating mixture may be reached.