Abstract: The apparatus (10) comprises receiving means for receiving at least one deposit of a cytological specimen, first and second staining stations (84, 86), and transfer means for transferring a portion of the or each deposit from the receiving means to the first staining station (84) and/or a portion of the or each deposit to the second staining station (86), the first staining station (84) being operable for a Papanicolaou staining technique and the second staining station (86) being operable for a Papanicolaou staining technique and at least one further staining technique. The method includes receiving a cytological specimen for pre-analysis preparation and adding anti-coagulant to the cytological specimen so as to improve the quality of information obtainable therefrom during later analysis.