Apparatus and methods for efficient processing of biological samples on slides

Abstract

Methods for treating biological samples on microscope slides are set forth. One aspect of the invention is the use of predried reagents in wells on trays onto which the slides are placed, especially the use of predried reagents which dissolve sequentially. Yet another aspect of the invention is the use of external controls placed directly on a microscope slide in conjunction with a biological sample to be assayed. The external controls can be conveniently placed on a membrane which can be affixed to the slide. A further aspect of the invention is a specially designed tray to allow whole chromosome painting of all chromosomes of a cell sample on a single slide. The invention is also drawn to a coverslip with concave wells which act as reaction chambers when placed against a slide and filled with buffer. Preferably a reagent is predried in the well. A further aspect of the invention is a method of reacting samples on slides by placing them into a reaction chamber together with a coverslip which has a predried reagent on it.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A multichamber coverslip comprising a group of connected coverslips which are spaced such that a single coverslip lines up with one or more slides in a slide holder of a system for processing biological samples. 
     
     
         44 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 43 , wherein an individual coverslip comprises a concave well. 
     
     
         45 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 43 , further comprising glass. 
     
     
         46 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 43 , further comprising plastic. 
     
     
         47 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 44 , wherein an individual coverslip with a concave well is an incubation chamber. 
     
     
         48 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 44 , wherein the concave well comprises a soft and pliable top. 
     
     
         49 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 48 , wherein the soft, pliable top allows expansion and contraction. 
     
     
         50 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 47  wherein the incubation chamber comprises a volume between 10 and 20 μl. 
     
     
         51 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 43 , wherein an individual coverslip is prescored. 
     
     
         52 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 49 , wherein the prescored coverslip can be snapped off the holder. 
     
     
         53 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 43 , further comprising reagents dried thereupon. 
     
     
         54 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 43 , wherein each individual coverslip is labeled. 
     
     
         55 . The multichamber coverslip of  claim 54 , wherein the label is a barcode. 
     
     
         56 . A method of performing an assay on a biological sample comprising,
 placing a microscope slide having a biological sample into a slide holder of an integrated system for processing the biological samples, wherein the system further comprises a multichamber coverslip comprising a group of individual coverslips which are connected and spaced such that a single coverslip is lined up over the sample on a slide.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein a solution for an assay is applied to the system. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein solution is water and each coverslip further comprises a reagent predried onto the coverslip. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the assay is an immunocytochemical assay, an in situ hybridization assay or a polymerase chain reaction. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a tissue section, a biopsy tissue, a cell smear, a nucleic acid, a protein or peptide, a chromosome, and a bodily fluid. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the biological sample to be assayed further comprises a control sample.