Manual method for depositing a sample directly onto a slide for liquid based cytology

A method for preparing a cytology sample for staining, the method comprising:

• providing a biological sample, wherein the biological sample is a liquid-based cytology (LBC) sample;
• disposing a pre-coated slide in a holder adapted for receiving the pre-coated slide, the slide pre-coated with a composition that will cause cells to adhere to the pre-coated slide;
• placing a settling chamber over the pre-coated slide and locking the settling chamber onto the holder wherein the settling chamber has openings in both proximate and distal ends, wherein the opening in the distal end is positioned over the pre-coated slide such that the pre-coated slide is interposed between the holder and the settling chamber and the pre-coated slide is in fluid communication with the settling chamber;
• locking the settling chamber into place in the holder thereby forming an assembly of the holder, the pre-coated slide and the settling chamber;
• placing a density reagent into the settling chamber;
• adding the liquid-based cytology sample into the settling chamber over the density reagent;
• placing the assembly in a centrifuge;
• centrifuging the assembly once for about 5 minutes or less at a rotation force of about 500 g or less, wherein the method has only one centrifugation step;
• decanting, by inversion, the density reagent and the liquid-based cytology sample thereover from the settling chamber;
• removing the settling chamber from over the pre-coated slide;
• and
• staining the sample on the pre-coated slide.