Slide case with removable rack

A slide case for holding and transporting at least one specimen slide comprising:

• a base having a first latch portion;
• a rack positionable within the base and comprising
• a second latch portion such that upon positioning the rack within the base, the first and second latch portions are placed in juxtaposition to releasably secure the rack in the base, and
• a pair of generally parallel and planar support bars having at least two opposed openings adapted to support a specimen slide;
• a cover positionable adjacent to and over the base.

A slide case for holding and transporting a specimen slide comprising:

• a base;
• a rack positionable adjacent the base and comprising opposed supports adapted to support opposite ends of a specimen slide;
• and
• a cover positionable adjacent the base to enclose the rack between the base and cover, the cover having a projection on an inner surface adapted to contact an upper edge of the specimen slide upon the cover being placed on the base, thereby securing the specimen slide between the rack and the cover.

A rack for holding at least one specimen slide comprising:

• a frame having opposed first and second sides and opposed first and second ends connected to ends of the sides;
• and
• first and second opposed supports connected to the frame and adapted to support opposite ends of a specimen slide;
• and
• first and second holes extending through the first and second ends, respectively, of the frame, the holes facilitating picking up and carrying the rack.

A slide case for holding and transporting a specimen slide comprising:

• a rack comprising
• a frame having two opposed sides, and
• a pair of generally parallel support bars, each of the support bars having
• a first edge connected to a different one of the sides of the frame, so that the support bar is deflectable with respect to the first edge, and
• an opening located opposite an opening in an opposite support bar, the opening adapted to support one end of a specimen slide;
• a base having a cavity for receiving a lower portion of the rack, and
• a cover having a cavity for receiving an upper portion of the rack upon the cover being placed on the base, the cover and base completely enclosing the rack and the slide supported therein.

A method of holding and transporting specimen slides comprising:

• inserting the specimen slide into opposed supports, one of the supports having one edge attached to one side of a rack and being movable with respect to the rack;
• inserting the rack with the specimen slide into a base;
• placing a cover over the base so that the cover contacts an upper edge of the specimen slide;
• and
• moving the cover toward the base to push the specimen slide with the cover against the one of the supports so that the one of the supports moves and the specimen slide is secured between the cover and the one of the supports.

A method of holding and processing specimen slides comprising:

• inserting a specimen slide into opposed supports of a rack, one of the opposed supports having one edge attached to one of a plurality of rack sides, a first rack side having a lower edge defining a lowermost boundary of the rack and a second rack side having a lowermost edge above the lowermost boundary, thereby defining a flow path beneath the second side;
• inserting the rack with the specimen slide into a processing device;
• operating the processing device;
• and
• removing the rack with the specimen slide from the processing device.