Benchtop instrument and consumables for sample deposition and staining

An apparatus for depositing and staining a cellular sample, comprising:

• a slide processing module, positioned at an upper front position of the apparatus, 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 first sample nozzle or a second sample 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;
• a clamping module, positioned at a lower front of the apparatus, comprising:
• a handle configured to be pushed downward to raise a slide bed along a linear rail such that at least one slide on the slide bed is covered by a hood consumable that securely seals against the slide bed, and
• a solenoid latch configured to lock the slide bed until the deposition operation is complete;
• and
• an auxiliary systems module, positioned at a rear of the apparatus, comprising:
• a chassis including a removable storage container configured to hold a plurality of reagent bottles, a buffer solution bottle, and an ethanol-based fixative bottle, 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.