Abstract: Apparatus for a rack for stemware includes a main base plate having a device for engaging and retaining the positioning of a first and second portion of an article to be held. A pair of straps are predeterminedly fastened to the base whereby a plurality of glasses having a base can be inserted under opposing portions of the straps whereby the plurality of glasses are prevented from movement. The apparatus also provides for an additional method of fastening the straps by providing a plurality of row of throughbores whereby the straps can be woven through the holes in a number of methods with the end result being that stemware-like glasses can be retained by sliding one side of the glass base under one of the straps and the other side of the glass base under the opposing strap.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of using a xenograft as a control tissue for histology, comprising staining both a patient and a xenograft-derived control sample under substantially similar staining conditions, and assessing the staining outcomes of the two to determine whether the stain was effective for the patient sample. A xenograft has never been used before in histology as a control, as far as the inventors know. The result of using a xenograft as a control is surprisingly advantageous. First, the cell lines grow and differentiate similarly to a human, taking on the general morphology of a real tissue sample. Second, because the same transformed cell line can be grown limitless times in SCID mice, the xenograft control is highly reproducible, leading to a consistent artificial control that is highly manufacturable and subject to genetic manipulation so that antigens or genetic elements may be embedded in the tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides novel reagents, reagent kits, and methods for automated hybridization. More particularly, the invention provides reagents, reagent kits, and methods for automated in situ hybridization and automated hybridization on a microarray. The use of automated instruments for in situ hybridization and microarray hybridization dramatically reduces the amount of labor and time involved and also facilitates standardization of protocols and consistency between results.

Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.

Abstract: The invention provides novel reagents, reagent kits, and methods for automated hybridization. More particularly, the invention provides reagents, reagent kits, and methods for automated in situ hybridization and automated hybridization on a microarray. The use of automated instruments for in situ hybridization and microarray hybridization dramatically reduces the amount of labor and time involved and also facilitates standardization of protocols and consistency between results.