Method of preparing a stage for use in a slide imaging apparatus

A copy holder moving system comprising:

• a copy holder comprising:
• (i) one or more apertures for holding a set of slides;
• and (ii) one or more indexing holes;
• and
• a movable stage comprising:
• one or more indexing pins, wherein the copy holder is configured to be mounted on the movable stage by aligning each of the one or more indexing holes to a corresponding indexing pin of the one or more indexing pins;
• a plurality of slide support pins, wherein each slide support pin of the plurality of slide support pins includes a respective tip formed with solid pin surfacing material, and wherein the plurality of slide support pins are configured to contact and secure the set of slides held by the one or more apertures as the copy holder is mounted on the movable stage;
• and
• an imaging area at which a camera of a slide-imaging apparatus is configured to capture an image of a first slide of the set of slides that is positioned over the imaging area after the copy holder is mounted on the movable stage, wherein the camera does not capture an image of a second slide of the set of slides that is positioned over an area outside of the imaging area.

A method comprising:

• obtaining a first slide of a first biological sample and a second slide of a second biological sample;
• inserting the first slide and the second slide on a copy holder comprising one or more apertures, wherein the first slide is inserted into a first aperture of the one or more apertures and the second slide is inserted into a second aperture of the one or more apertures;
• mounting the copy holder on a movable stage of a slide-imaging apparatus at a first indexing position, wherein:
• (i) the movable stage includes a plurality of slide support pins configured to secure the first slide and the second slide as the copy holder is mounted on the movable stage, wherein each slide support pin of the plurality of slide support pins includes a respective tip formed with solid pin surfacing material;
• and
• (ii) the first indexing position allows the first slide to be positioned over an imaging area of the movable stage and the second slide to be positioned over an area outside of the imaging area;
• capturing, using the slide-imaging apparatus, a first image of the first slide;
• mounting the copy holder on the movable stage at a second indexing position, wherein the second indexing position allows the second slide to be positioned over the imaging area of the movable stage and the first slide to be positioned over the area outside of the imaging area;
• and
• capturing, using the slide-imaging apparatus, a second image of the second slide.