Method of preparing a biological specimen slide

• US 20090155783A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Molecular Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Jaekel, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,440,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6841 In situ hybridisation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/36 Embedding or analogous mounting of samples

Abstract

A method of preparing a slide of a biological specimen, including the steps of (a) providing a slide containing a biological specimen and a cover slip, (b) placing a liquid non-evaporating sealing compound such as mineral oil at spaced locations around an area on the slide and (c) placing the cover slip over the specimen area whereby the specimen and reagent is between the slide and the cover slip and the sealing compound spreads to define a closed boundary around the specimen in the space between the slide and the cover slip. Testing of the biological specimen may then be performed automatically.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a slide of a biological specimen, comprising the steps of:

providing a slide containing a biological specimen and a cover slip;

placing a liquid non-evaporating sealing compound around an area on said slide; and

placing the cover slip over the specimen whereby said specimen is between said slide and said cover slip and said sealing compound defines a closed boundary around the specimen in the space between said slide and said cover slip.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sealing compound is mineral oil.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said sealing compound is placed in spaced locations around said area on said slide, and said step of placing said cover slip over said specimen causes said sealing compound to spread to connect said spaced locations and define said closed boundary.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said slide includes a flat surface with a first raised portion around said area on said slide and a second raised portion around said first raise portion wherein said closed boundary is defined between said first and second raised portions.

5. A method of performing a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) process, comprising the steps of:

preparing a biological specimen on a slide by

placing a liquid non-evaporating sealing compound around an area on said slide,

placing the cover slip over the specimen whereby said specimen is between said slide and said cover slip and said sealing compound defines a closed boundary around the specimen in the space between said slide and said cover slip; and

performing said process on said specimen on said apparatus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said apparatus includes a movable suction member adapted to secure to said cover slip whereby said suction member is moved away from said slide to pull said cover slip off said specimen and sealing compound when access to said specimen is required in said process.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said sealing compound is mineral oil.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said sealing compound is placed as spaced droplets around said area on said slide, and said step of placing said cover slip over said specimen causes said sealing compound to expand to connect said spaced locations and define said closed boundary.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said slide includes a flat surface with a first raised portion around said area on said slide and a second raised portion around said first raise portion wherein said closed boundary is defined between said first and second raised portions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said sealing compound placing step locates spaced droplets of said sealing compound around said slide first raised portion and inside said slide second raised portion.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein said specimen preparing step comprises:

mounting said slide to said apparatus;

performing said specimen placing step and said sealing compound step; and

performing said cover slip placing step by securing said suction member to said cover slip and automatically moving said suction member wherein said suction member releases said cover slip after locating said cover slip over said specimen.