Devices and methods for tissue and cell staining (II)

A method for analyzing an analyte in a sample, comprising:

• (a) obtaining a tissue sample containing or suspected of containing a target analyte;
• (b) obtaining a device comprising a first plate, a second plate, and spacers, wherein
• (i) the first and second plate are movable relative to each other into different configurations, including an open configuration and a closed configuration, and
• (ii) the spacers have a predetermined substantially uniform height that is equal to or less than about 200 microns, and a predetermined inter-spacer distance, and
• (iii) each plate has a sample contact area on respective inner surface of the plate for contacting the sample;
• (c) depositing, when the plates are in the open configuration, the sample on one or both of the plates;
• (d) after (c), bringing the two plates together and pressing the plates into the closed configuration;
• (e) imaging, using an imager, without washing the sample in the closed configuration, one or more images of the sample;
• and
• (f) analyzing, using a machine learning model, the one or more images to detect the analyte,
• wherein the open configuration is the configuration, in which:
• the two plates are partially or entirely separated apart, the spacing between the plates is not regulated by the spacers, and the tissue sample is deposited on one or both of the plates;
• and
• wherein the closed configuration is the configuration that is configured after the open configuration;
• and in the closed configuration:
• at least part of the tissue sample and a layer of at least part of the staining liquid are between the two plates, wherein the thickness of the layer of at least part of the staining liquid is regulated by the plates, the tissue sample, and the spacers, and has an average distance between the sample surface and the surface of the plates that is equal to or less than 250 μm.