Multiple slide processing apparatus

A method of sequentially treating microscope slides using treatment processes of different duration comprising the steps of:

• placing a plurality of microscope slides in a corresponding plurality of first-process receptacles for treatment with a first treatment process;
• removing a first of the plurality of microscope slides from one of the first-process receptacles, creating a vacated receptacle;
• placing the first microscope slide in a second-process receptacle for treatment with a second treatment process, while other of the plurality of microscope slides undergo treatment with the first treatment process, wherein the second treatment process is of shorter duration than the first treatment process;
• replacing the first microscope slide with a new microscope slide in the vacated first-process receptacle;
• removing the first microscope slide from the second-process receptacle;
• and
• replacing the first microscope slide in the second-process receptacle with another of the plurality of microscope slides from the first-process receptacles.