H&E Slide Stainers

Slide stainers are utilized in the histology lab for automating staining procedures for staining patient tissue, most commonly hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Automated H&E slide stainers can stain 20 to 180 slides at a time. Slide stainers for histology dip baskets of slides into staining reservoirs for a designated period of time based on the lab’s specific protocol. Some slide stainers can be connected to an automated coverslipper to create a fully automated slide staining and coverslipping workstation.

H&E staining is a two-step process that involves first staining the tissue with hematoxylin, which is a basic dye that binds to nucleic acids (such as DNA and RNA) and stains them a blue or purple color. The tissue is then counterstained with eosin, which is an acidic dye that stains proteins and other cellular structures a pink or red color. The combination of the blue nuclei and pink cytoplasm produces a characteristic “H&E” appearance that is useful for identifying different types of cells and tissues.

H&E slide stainers typically consist of a series of tanks or chambers that contain the different staining solutions. The tissue slides are placed in the stainer and then processed through the different solutions in a specific order. The stainer may also include drying and rinsing stations to remove excess dye and prepare the slides for examination under a microscope.

H&E staining is an essential technique in histology and is used to study a wide range of tissues and cell types. H&E slide stainers are commonly used in research laboratories, hospitals, and pathology labs to prepare tissue samples for microscopic examination.

Rankin supplies new, used, and refurbished slide stainers for the histology lab. We carry the following brands: Leica, Sakura Tissue-Tek, Thermo, Intelsint, and more. Refurbished slide stainers are remanufactured and recertified to be in like-new condition, backed by a 1-year warranty. Learn more about Rankin’s refurbishment protocol here.