BENCHTOP INSTRUMENT AND CONSUMABLES FOR SAMPLE DEPOSITION AND STAINING

An apparatus for depositing and staining a cellular sample, includes a slide processing module comprising a specimen input port (SIP) dock configured to receive a SIP consumable comprising the cellular sample, and position the SIP consumable such that a spray nozzle of the SIP consumable and an air nozzle of the slide processing module are aligned prior to a deposition operation, and a user interface configured receive an input from a user that configures the deposition operation and a staining operation, and an auxiliary systems module, coupled to the slide processing module, comprising a chassis including a removable storage container configured to hold a plurality of bottles comprising one or more of a reagent, a buffer solution, or an ethanol-based fixative, and an electronics subsystem configured to execute, based on the input from the user, a pre-programmed protocol for the deposition operation and the staining operation.