Automatic Stainer: Factors To Look Out For When Purchasing For Hospital and Laboratory Work

Full Catalog and Price List of Automatic Staining Machine

Manual staining has been the norm for years of laboratory work. However, this was more strenuous, especially if you had to prepare hundreds of stained slides daily. This led to the invention of the automatic staining machine. It helps to stain slides with various reagents automatically.

This article will take you through the various types of staining machines existing, their various modes of operation, and what to look out for when purchasing an automatic staining machine.

What is An Automatic Staining Machine?

An automatic staining machine is a machine that was initially made to automate the process of Gram staining. The initial device utilized a conveyor chain which simply moved the slide of one jar of reagent to another while allowing the initial reagent to drain before moving to the next.

It used the bulk staining method and was regarded as a huge breakthrough in the mechanization of staining. It was used for Gram staining and Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining procedures.

However, newer automated staining machines are used in more complex laboratory procedures. These procedures include special staining (SS), in-situ hybridization (ISH), and immunohistochemistry (IHC). They also require more intricate methods of staining methods.

Types of Automatic Staining Machines

Automatic staining machines can be classified based on the following categories

• Their physical format.
• The principle of operation.
• The mode of operation.

Physical Format

This involves the method the staining machines use in loading slides. This can be divided into the array/matrix-style or the carousel/rotary style.

• The Array/Matrix Style
• The Carousel/Rotary Style

The slides are arranged in rows and columns in this automatic staining machine. It also helps in faster productivity in that the operator can remove finished slides from the stainer and add new ones. This way, you can make multiple batches in just one staining run. This process is known as continuous access.

This type of automatic stainer arranges the slides in a circular manner on tray-like support. This method causes a lot of delays because it doesn't allow the removal of any slide before the run finishes. This way, you'll have to wait for the completion of the whole rum even if some slides are done before then.

Method of Stain Application

Most automatic stainers use different ways to apply the required stains to the slide. This can be divided into two parts: stainers that dip the slide and stainers that apply the stain.

• Stainers that dip the slides
• Stainers that apply the stain

This type of stainer is classified into two types: either having a linear or batch design. Linear stainers utilize a carrier mechanism. Slides are loaded one at a time onto this mechanism, then immersed into staining solutions sequentially. Slide clips hold the slides in place, which are attached to the carrier mechanism.

The slides leave the machine separately as the carrier mechanism advances at a constant speed. The interface between the slide clip and a little bump in the bath containers raises and lowers slides into the baths.

Batch stainers transport racks containing many slides through staining solution baths. A rotary tissue processor was employed as a batch stainer in an early version of this technology. Staining racks were linked onto the tissue basket carriers on the processor, and the processing cycle was changed from 24 hours (overnight) to 1 hour. The slides were processed in beakers filled with stain solution. This principle is still used in the manufacture of stainers.

High-tech labs now have complex batch stainers that use robotic programming to transport the rack of slides from one staining solution to another. The programming could also make the robot assistants agitate the slides during transport.

The stainers that apply the stain to the slide function in three different ways: centrifugal stainers, capillary gap stainers, and flat method stainers.

• Capillary Stainers:They use capillarity to draw up the stain up the gap between the specimen slide and another surface (which could be another slide or a coverslip). A good example is a platen-type stainer used for Wright's staining in hematology labs. Robotic stainers are also used in this process where the robot arms drop the stain between the slide and the coverslip/another slide. The stain is then dragged along the slide by gravity. This method is most favored in immunohistochemistry procedures.
• Flat-Method Stainers: This method involves spraying the stain on the slides while lying flat in the stainer. This method could be operated in two ways. This could either be by using robotic arms that pick up each slide and apply the stains. The other process involves a rotating platter and a stainer's arm. The arm picks up reagents and dispenses them on each slide as the platter rotates.
• Centrifugal Stainers: This method involves the staining machine spraying the stain on the slides as they spin past the spray pumps in a rotating chamber. This technology is applied in Gram staining, hematology staining, and Papanicolaou (Pap) staining procedures.

Mode of Operation

This involves the way the stainer operates when carrying out staining runs. This can be classified into opened and closed methods.

The open automatic stainers allow access to the slides during the staining procedure. In addition, open systems will enable you to remove the slides and load another batch in the same run (continuous access). This increases productivity and makes batch staining faster.

Closed systems are stainers that do not allow access to the slides during the staining run. Also, you cannot alter the staining protocol as most of the stainers in this category require barcode-labeled reagents. The stainer reads these barcodes according to its programming before the staining run. This type of stainer limits the type of reagents used in the staining.

Factors To Look Out For When Purchasing An Automatic Stainer

1. The Physical Format

The type of physical format (array or carousel) affects your productivity with any automatic stainer. The format determines if you can alter your staining protocol and add/remove slides from the staining run. If you plan to carry out large staining batches with the stainer, the array stainer will likely be a better choice. However, if you want to ensure there’s no interference with your staining method, the carousel is your best bet.

2. Can the Stainer Use Different Reagents?

Some stainers can only use reagents with barcode labels due to their requirements for barcode programming before carrying out the staining run. Therefore, these stainers will limit the variety of reagents used for staining. Hence, this could cause an increase in the cost of staining.

3. Are the Reagents Used by the Stainer Readily Available?

If the stainer requires particular reagents, how scarce are these reagents? This is another factor you have to consider before purchasing any automatic stainer. The availability of reagents is a huge factor in determining how valuable a stainer can be to you.

4. How Much Automation Does The Stainer Allow?

If you have to be involved in many other procedures around the lab, you’ll need a strainer that offers some degree of automation. Stainers that allow programming or have robotic assistants have a high degree of automation embedded in them. This way, you can spend the time afforded during the staining run carrying out other vital procedures. However, the amount of automation you can get with a stainer depends mainly on your budget.

5. Does the Stainer Heat the Slides?

In some procedures, such as in-situ hybridization, heating the slides is quite important. If you want to carry out such procedures, you’ll need a strainer that provides a means for you to heat the slides you’re working on. The absence of heating methods would only lead to constant movement with the slides, which could cause contamination.

Automatic Staining Machine Price Guide

1.HS-2300 Immuno Autostainer ($46,200)

This automatic stainer is suited for immunochemistry procedures. It has a slide capacity of 48 slides and can load up to 64 reagents. It applies the stain to the surface of the slide and has different spray pumps for this function (50 uL, 100uL, 150uL, and 200uL pumps).

2.HSC-100 Slide Stainer ($8,604)

This stainer offers ten-cylinder containers that contain staining reagent solutions into which the operator dips the slides. However, the 4th and 5th containers are used to tidy the stains, and the 10th cylinder is used to dry the stain. It also offers a temperature knob for regulating experiment temperature.

3.LSD-600 Staining System ($6,531.60)

This is another stainer which dips the slides into the staining reagent solutions. It contains 12 or 16 reagent containers, one cleaning bath, and one drying bath. It offers a processing time range from 0 - 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

4.LSD-700 Slide Stainer ($9,242.40)

This is another slide immersion, automatic stainer. It has 19 cylinder containers which include those for washing and drying. It keeps the operating temperature from around room temperature to 40C.

5.LSS-800 Slide Stainer ($17,523.60)

This automatic stainer dips the slides into the staining solution but has a batch design. Containing three tracks, with each rack having a capacity of 30 slides, this stainer can produce 200 specimen slides per hour (depending on the type of program carried out). Its operation temperature is from 15C to 35C. It also has an oven which can heat up to 85C.

Wholesale Price Advantage on Medwish.com

Medwish.com is a tested and trusted website to get your automatic stainers for your laboratory procedures. Also, they offer mouth-watering discounts on all purchases made from their website.

Medwish.com allows you to splurge on medical supplies and equipment at a discounted price. You can place your bulk orders for medical supplies and equipment at the most competitive prices available. In addition, different funding options are available to assist you in purchasing any device you may require.