RESULT: The first self-contained instrument of its type. Small and light enough to be carried by one person, the design allows for the simultaneous processing of 24 individual slides, each with a unique staining protocol. It has been designed with four bulk reagent containers and two waste containers, one for normal waste and one for biohazardous waste, built-in. Using 24 proprietary reaction vessels, it produces the lowest signal to noise ratio staining available on the market today. Because of the unique proprietary methods employed it allows for walk-away operation. The slide heating system brings the slides to preprogrammed temperatures with no overshoot and regulation to within 0.1° C.

TASK: Develop an instrument to provide automated and totally reliable immunostaining that exceeds current methods and that outperforms competing instruments. Provide a method to individually heat each slide to provide for augmented antibody retrieval. It should be an open system allowing the user the option of using reagents of their choice, be capable of consistent performance using different dilutions and incubation times.