Sample vial for use in preparing cytological specimen

An automated system for manipulating a vial, the vial comprising a vial cap and a vial body, the vial body comprising a flange that extends radially around an outer surface of the vial body and at least one anti-rotation lug protruding from the outer surface of the vial body adjacent to the vial body flange, the vial cap comprising a torque pattern on an outer surface of the vial cap, the system comprising:

• a vial sleeve comprising a bore sized for receiving and seating the vial body, an upper edge for interfacing with the vial body flange, and at least one axially extending slot formed in the vial sleeve upper edge and configured for receiving the at least one vial body anti-rotation lug, thereby preventing rotation of a vial body seated in the bore relative to the vial sleeve;
• and
• a controllable rotatable interface positionable by the system to engage the vial cap of the vial disposed in the vial sleeve, wherein the rotatable interface comprises an interface torque pattern configured for engaging with the vial cap torque pattern,
• wherein the rotatable interface and the vial sleeve are collectively controllable by the system to tighten a vial cap of a vial seated in the sleeve by applying an amount of torque to the vial cap relative to the vial body sufficient for forming a fluid-tight seal without over-tightening the cap.