Abstract: A vacuum operated work piece holder and method are disclosed for holding slides and the like during subsequent work operations. In the apparatus of this invention, an elongated and generally cylindrical vacuum chamber containing a plurality of ports is provided. When a vacuum is drawn through the chamber, biological laboratory slides or the like may be held in place on the port to enable gram staining and washing operations to be carried on in sequence. Multiple chambers may be used and each chamber is preferably mounted so as to be rotatable to allow the operator to rotate the chamber to aid in draining the wash water.