Histological tissue specimen processing

A tissue processor for processing tissue samples, including:

• at least one retort for receiving tissue samples;
• at least one container for storing a reagent;
• at least one sensor arranged for fluid communication with one or both of the at least one container and the at least one retort for measuring a measured purity level of a reagent;
• and
• a controller programmed to:
• conduct reagent from the at least one container or the at least one retort to the at least one sensor;
• measure, by means of the at least one sensor, a measured purity level of the reagent;
• check whether the measured purity level meets a predetermined purity level of the reagent associated with the at least one container;
• determine, based on a result of the checking, whether the reagent is suitable for processing tissue samples in the tissue processor;
• and
• determine, based on the measured purity level, a carry over volume of the reagent into another reagent of another container.

A method of operating a tissue processor for processing tissue samples, the tissue processor including:

• at least one retort for receiving tissue samples;
• at least one container for storing a reagent;
• and at least one sensor arranged for fluid communication with one or both of the at least one container and the at least one retort for measuring a measured purity level of a reagent, the method including the steps of:
• a) conducting reagent from the at least one container or the at least one retort to the at least one sensor;
• b) automatically measuring, by means of the at least one sensor, a measured purity level of the reagent;
• c) checking whether the measured purity level meets a predetermined purity level of the reagent associated with the at least one container;
• and
• d) automatically determining, based on a result of the checking, whether the reagent is suitable for processing tissue samples in the tissue processor,
• wherein the tissue processor includes a first container for storing a first reagent and a second container for storing a second reagent, and wherein the method further includes the steps of:
• operating the tissue processor to perform a tissue processing protocol using the first reagent and the second reagent;
• and
• automatically determining a carry over volume of the first reagent from the first container into the second reagent from the second container,
• wherein automatically determining the carry over volume includes the steps of:
• providing an initial volume of the second reagent in the second container;
• and
• performing the measuring step b) to measure the following:
• a density value of the first reagent on draining of the at least one retort;
• a density value of the second reagent on filling of the at least one retort;
• and
• a density value of the second reagent on draining of the at least one retort,
• wherein the carry over volume is calculated according to
• V
• co
• =
• ρ
• C
• ⁢
• ⁢
• 2
• ⁢
• out
• -
• ρ
• C
• ⁢
• ⁢
• 2
• ⁢
• in
• ρ
• C
• ⁢
• ⁢
• 1
• ⁢
• out
• -
• ρ
• C
• ⁢
• ⁢
• 2
• ⁢
• out
• ×
• V
• wherein:
• Vco=volume of carry over (L);
• ρc2out=measured density value of the second reagent on draining of the at least one retort (kg/m3);
• ρc2in=measured density value of the second reagent on filling of the at least one retort (kg/m3);
• ρc1outt=measured density value of the first reagent on draining of the at least one retort (kg/m3);
• and
• V=initial volume of the second reagent in the second container (L).