Image based detector for slides or baskets for use in a slide processing apparatus

The slide detector detects at least one property of a slide 82, the slide detector comprising an image generating means for generating an image of the slide, and image processing means for identifying the at least one property of the slide based on the generated image. Typically the at least one property of the slide is the position of the slide with respect to a slide processing mechanism or gripper 86. The image processing means can be configured to identify at least one edge of the slide, for example by making a plurality of measurements from the generated image so as to identify the edge. In embodiments the slide detector is used with a coverslipper or configured to identify whether a slide is present in a slot of a basket in which the slide is located. A basket detector detects the type of basket so that the slides therein can be processed accordingly.