Microscope slide and staining method

Abstract

Provided is a microscope slide that allows staining to be performed without a specimen detaching when staining is performed by using an automatic staining device.　The present invention provides a microscope slide comprising an examination region comprising an outer region and a smear region. The outer region is formed by applying an antifouling treatment to the microscope slide. The smear region is shaped by being surrounded by the outer region, and comprises a specimen dropping portion and a staining solution dropping portion. The specimen dropping portion and the staining solution dropping portion are disposed at different positions in the smear region.

Description

Slides and staining methods

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide and a staining method.

[0002] Various staining methods have been used in pathological diagnosis. For example, Gram staining, which involves applying a specimen to a glass slide and staining it, is a well-known test method used in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Staining devices that can perform Gram staining regardless of the technician's level of expertise are available.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a staining device that automatically performs Gram staining. In this staining device, a clamp holds a glass slide, and stains the glass slide by spraying various liquids used in Gram staining onto the glass slide.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-232875

[0005] However, with such automatic staining devices, unlike when staining is done by hand by a technician, it is not possible to adjust the amount or strength of the liquid sprayed for staining depending on the specimen, and there is a risk that the specimen will peel off from the slide during the staining process.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a slide glass that can be stained without the specimen peeling off when staining using an automatic staining device.

[0007] According to the present invention, the following inventions are provided: [1] A glass slide comprising a test area including an outer region and a smear region, the outer region being formed by applying an anti-fouling treatment to the glass slide, the smear region being shaped by being surrounded by the outer region, and comprising a specimen drop portion and a staining liquid drop portion, the specimen drop portion and the staining liquid drop portion being located at different positions within the smear region. [2] The glass slide according to [1], further comprising a gripping region extending a predetermined length from one end of a shorter side of the glass slide and adjacent to the test area, the gripping region comprising a barrier portion, the barrier portion being formed by applying an anti-fouling treatment linearly on the gripping region toward the test area and across the shorter direction of the glass slide. [3] The slide glass according to [1] or [2], wherein the smeared region comprises a first region and a second region, the first region and the second region being substantially circular and connected to form a snowman-shaped smeared region, the specimen drop portion being the first region, and the staining liquid drop portion being the second region. [4] The slide glass according to [1] or [2], wherein the smeared region comprises a specimen enclosing portion, the specimen enclosing portion being annular and having at least one notch formed on its outer periphery by an antifouling treatment, the specimen drop portion being a region within the specimen enclosing portion, and the staining liquid drop portion being a region within the smeared region but outside the specimen enclosing portion. [5] The slide glass according to [4], wherein the notch is formed so that the outer periphery on both sides of the notch is curved and convex. [6] A slide glass according to [1] or [2], wherein the smeared area includes a specimen enclosing portion, the specimen enclosing portion is formed in the smeared area by applying an antifouling treatment to the specimen enclosing portion in a dashed ring shape, the specimen drop portion is arranged within the specimen enclosing portion, and the staining liquid drop portion is arranged within the smeared area but outside the specimen enclosing portion.[7] The slide glass according to [6], wherein the specimen surrounding portion has inlet portions formed at intervals greater than the intervals between the dashed lines. [8] The slide glass according to [1] or [2], wherein the smeared regions are each oval in shape, the specimen drop portion is a region on one major axis side of the smeared region, and the staining liquid drop portion is a region on the other major axis side of the smeared region. [9] The slide glass according to [1] or [2], wherein the smeared region is rectangular in shape, and at least one short side and at least one long side have notches formed thereon.

[10] A method for staining a specimen, comprising a specimen dropping step and a staining liquid dropping step, wherein the specimen dropping step involves dropping a specimen into a smeared region on the slide glass, and the staining liquid dropping step involves dropping a staining liquid at a position within the smeared region on the slide glass different from the position where the specimen was dropped.

[0008] In the slide glass according to the present invention, the portion where the specimen is dropped and the portion where the staining liquid is dropped are located at different positions, so that the specimen can be stained without the risk of peeling off.

[0009] 9A is a schematic diagram of a slide glass 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9B is a block diagram of an automatic staining apparatus 100 in which the slide glass 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 9C is a block diagram of a hardware configuration of a control means 140. FIG. 9D is a block diagram of a slide glass 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9A is a plan view of a slide glass 1 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9B is a bottom view of a slide glass 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9C is a front view of a slide glass 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9D is a rear view of a slide glass 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9E is a left side view of a slide glass 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9F is a right side view of a slide glass 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11A is a plan view of a slide glass 1 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11B is a bottom view of a slide glass 1 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12A is a plan view of a slide glass 1 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12B is a bottom view of the slide glass 1 according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12B is a schematic view showing a modified example of the slide glass 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12C is a schematic view showing a modified example of the slide glass 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12D is a schematic view showing a modified example of the slide glass 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Various features shown in the following embodiments can be combined with each other. Furthermore, each feature can be an invention independently. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, elements not specified in the claims are optional elements and can be omitted. Any number of "0"s (for example, one or two) may be added to the end of numerical values ​​disclosed in the following description. For example, one or two "0"s may be added after "1.4" to make it "1.40" or "1.400."

[0011] 1. First Embodiment A slide glass 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 . In this specification, the slide glass 1 may be referred to as a preparation, as necessary. Furthermore, the term "staining" used in this specification may refer to known staining methods such as Gram staining, Ziehl-Nielsen staining, India ink staining, Giemsa staining, and Grocott staining. For convenience, the following description focuses on Gram staining.

[0012] 1.1 Overall Configuration of Slide Glass 1 The slide glass 1 includes an examination area 10 and a gripping area 20 .

[0013] (1) Inspection Area 10 The inspection area 10 includes an outer area 11 and a smear area 12. The outer area 11 is formed by applying an antifouling treatment to the glass slide 1. In this specification, the term "antifouling treatment" refers to a water-repellent and / or oil-repellent treatment. Specifically, the outer area 11 is formed by applying a hydrophobic and / or oleophobic substance to the glass slide 1. The hydrophobic substance may be, for example, any UV-curable ink. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which a single substance, either a hydrophobic substance or an oleophobic substance, is applied. Alternatively, a substance having both hydrophobic and oleophobic properties (hereinafter referred to as "amphiphobic"), such as a fluororesin, may be applied.

[0014] In Figure 1, the outer region 11 is formed by applying an antifouling treatment to the periphery of the smeared region 12 so as to fill in most of the test region 10. With this configuration, the outer region 11 repels the specimen and staining liquid, allowing the specimen and staining liquid to be retained in the smeared region 12. This prevents the specimen and staining liquid from flowing out of the smeared region 12, resulting in loss of specimen quantitation, contamination, or failure to retain the staining liquid for a predetermined period of time, making staining impossible.

[0015] The smeared region 12 is a portion defined by being surrounded by the outer region 11. The slide glass 1 according to this embodiment can have one or more smeared regions 12. Any number of smeared regions 12 can be provided on the slide glass 1, but the slide glass 1 shown in the figure has three smeared regions 12. In other words, this slide glass 1 can be used to stain three specimens.

[0016] The smear area 12 includes a specimen drop area 12a and a staining liquid drop area 12b. The specimen drop area 12a is an area where a specimen collected from a patient is dropped. The specimen drop area 12a is the observation position after staining. The specimen may be, for example, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, sputum, or bile. However, the slide glass 1 according to this embodiment is preferably used for specimens with relatively low viscosity, such as urine or cerebrospinal fluid. The staining liquid drop area 12b is an area where various liquids used for staining (e.g., crystal violet, Lugol's solution, water, alcohol, etc., in the case of Gram staining) are dropped.

[0017] The specimen drop portion 12a and the staining liquid drop portion 12b are positioned at different positions within the smear area 12. By positioning the specimen drop portion 12a and the staining liquid drop portion 12b at different positions, it is possible to prevent the specimen from peeling off due to the dripping of the staining liquid. Furthermore, when the observation and evaluation of the stained slide glass 1 are performed mechanically using a device, the observation position may be fixed regardless of the bacterial distribution in the specimen. In this case, a specimen with a higher concentration than that typically observed by a technician may be used so that the bacteria can be observed using the device. A specimen with a higher concentration is more likely to peel off than a normal specimen, making the slide glass 1 more useful.

[0018] Each smeared region 12 according to this embodiment includes a first region 13 and a second region 14. The first region 13 and the second region 14 are each substantially circular and are arranged so as to be connected to each other, thereby forming a snowman-shaped smeared region 12. In this embodiment, the first region 13 is a specimen drop portion 12a, and the second region 14 is a staining liquid drop portion 12b. In FIG. 1, the boundary between the first region 13 and the second region 14 is indicated by a dashed line for ease of understanding.

[0019] Liquids have the tendency to become round due to surface tension. By making the first region 13 and the second region 14 each approximately circular, the dropped specimen or staining liquid can be more easily retained in the smear region 12 by surface tension. Furthermore, a substantially circular shape makes it easier for the concentration to be distributed uniformly compared to a rectangular shape. Therefore, by making the first region 13 and the second region 14 each approximately circular, the specimen after staining can be more easily observed and evaluated.

[0020] The diameter L1 of the circle constituting the first region 13 is 2 to 15 mm, preferably 6 to 8 mm, and more preferably 7 mm. Specifically, the diameter L1 of the first region 13 may be, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 mm, or may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here. The diameter L2 of the circle constituting the second region 14 is 3 to 8 mm, preferably 4 to 6 mm, and more preferably 5 mm. Specifically, the diameter L2 of the second region 14 may be, for example, 3, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, or 8 mm, or may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here.

[0021] To ensure quantitative concentration in the smeared region 12, the amount of sample dispensed is determined according to the size of the smeared region 12. Therefore, if the area of ​​the smeared region 12 is too large, the amount of sample dispensed increases, and it takes a long time to dry the sample.

[0022] On the other hand, if the size of the smeared region 12 is too small, surface tension will not work well, and the liquid will easily flow out of the smeared region 12. Therefore, it is preferable that the diameters L1 and L2 of the first region 13 and the second region 14 are within the above range. When the diameters L1 and L2 of the first region 13 and the second region 14 are within the above range, the amount of sample to be dropped will be approximately 15 μl, and for this amount of sample, the drying time can be reduced to approximately 45 minutes.

[0023] (2) Gripping Area 20 The gripping area 20 is an area that is provided over a predetermined length from one end of the short side of the slide glass 1 and is adjacent to the examination area 10. As will be described in detail later, when staining is performed using a staining device, the gripping means 110 of the staining device grips the gripping area 20 to perform various staining operations.

[0024] The gripping region 20 includes a barrier portion 21. The barrier portion 21 is formed by applying an antifouling treatment linearly to the gripping region 20 on the side of the examination region 10 and across the width of the slide glass 1. The antifouling treatment of the barrier portion 21 can be selected from the same group of materials as those used for the outer region 11.

[0025] When performing a staining operation in the staining apparatus, when the gripping means 110 that grips the slide glass 1 is moved, the staining liquid may flow over the dripping area and the outer region 11 and adhere to the gripping means 110. If the staining liquid adheres to the gripping means 110, the staining liquid used on the previous slide glass 1 may adhere to another slide glass 1, causing contamination between the slide glasses.

[0026] By forming the barrier portion 21 that has been subjected to antifouling treatment, it is possible to prevent the staining liquid from entering the arm side, and to prevent contamination between the slide glasses.

[0027] Although one barrier portion 21 may be provided, preferably multiple barrier portions 21 are provided. Providing multiple barrier portions 21 makes it more difficult for the staining liquid to reach the arm that grips the slide glass 1. Specifically, for example, one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven barrier portions 21 are provided. In the illustrated example, the barrier portion 21 is formed by linearly shaped first to third barrier portions 21a to 21c that are parallel to each other.

[0028] When multiple barrier sections 21 are provided, it is preferable that at least one is water-repellent and at least one is oil-repellent. In other words, it is preferable that, among the first to third barrier sections 21a to 21c, two barrier sections 21 are water-repellent and one barrier section 21 is oil-repellent, or that one barrier section 21 is water-repellent and two barrier sections 21 are oil-repellent. The example in Figure 1 shows the former configuration.

[0029] Specifically, the combination of treatments for the barrier portion 21 may be, for example, a combination in which the first and second barrier portions 21a, 21b are water-repellent and the third barrier portion 21c is oil-repellent, a combination in which the first and third barrier portions 21a, 21c are water-repellent and the second barrier portion 21b is oil-repellent, or a combination in which the first barrier portion 21a is oil-repellent and the second and third barrier portions 21b, 21c are water-repellent.

[0030] When there are two barrier portions 21 that have been treated with an oil-repellent coating, the combinations are, for example, as follows: the first and second barrier portions 21a, 21b are oil-repellent and the third barrier portion 21c is water-repellent; the first and third barrier portions 21a, 21c are oil-repellent and the second barrier portion 21b is water-repellent; or the first barrier portion 21a is water-repellent and the second and third barrier portions 21b, 21c are oil-repellent.

[0031] When barrier section 21 is treated with a water- and oil-repellent substance by application of an amphophobic substance, first to third barrier sections 21a-c may all be made of the same substance. Also, for example, among first to third barrier sections 21a-c, one barrier section 21 may be treated with a water- and oil-repellent substance and two barrier sections 21 may be treated with a water- or oil-repellent substance, or one barrier section 21 may be treated with a water-repellent substance and two barrier sections 21 may be treated with a water- or oil-repellent substance, or one barrier section 21 may be treated with a water-repellent substance, one barrier section 21 may be treated with an oil-repellent substance, and one barrier section 21 may be treated with a water- and oil-repellent substance.

[0032] In addition, although the barrier portion 21 is formed in a straight line in the illustrated example, it can be formed in any shape (for example, a curved shape) as long as it is configured to prevent the staining liquid from reaching the arm.

[0033] 1.2 Staining Apparatus Here, an example of an automatic staining apparatus in which the slide glass 1 according to this embodiment is intended to be used will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the automatic staining apparatus 100 includes a gripping means 110, a moving means 120, a staining liquid dripping means 130, and a control means 140. The automatic staining apparatus 100 may further include conventionally known components such as a staining liquid bottle for storing the staining liquid and a waste liquid tank for storing used staining liquid.

[0034] 1.2.1 Gripping Means 110 The gripping means 110 is configured to be able to grip the slide glass 1. For example, the gripping means 110 is formed in a clip shape and grips the gripping region 20 of the slide glass 1. The gripping means 110 may have any other configuration as long as it is able to grip the slide glass 1.

[0035] 1.2.2 Moving Means 120 The moving means 120 is connected to the gripping means 110 and is configured to be able to move the gripping means 110. The moving means 120 may have any configuration as long as it can move and tilt the gripping means 110. The moving means 120 may be, for example, a multi-joint arm. The moving means 120 is configured to be able to be driven in response to commands from a movement control unit 141b, which will be described later.

[0036] 1.2.3 Dyeing liquid dripping means 130 The dyeing liquid dripping means 130 includes a plurality of dyeing liquid dripping members 130a. Each dyeing liquid dripping member 130a is connected to, for example, a dyeing liquid bottle and is configured to drip dyeing liquid. Each dyeing liquid dripping member 130a can be configured to drip one type of dyeing liquid in response to a command from a drip control unit 141c (described later).

[0037] 3 , the control means 140 includes a control unit 141, a storage unit 142, and an input unit 143. The control means 140 may further include an output unit 144. A communication bus 145 interconnects the control unit 141, the storage unit 142, the input unit 143, and the output unit 144. The communication bus 145 also connects the control means 140 to the moving unit 120 and the staining liquid dropping unit 130.

[0038] (1) Control Unit 141 The control unit 141 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a microprocessor (MPU, Micro Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or the like, and controls the overall operation of the automatic staining apparatus 100.

[0039] (2) Storage Unit 142 A portion of the storage unit 142 is composed of, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory) or DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and is used as a work area when the control unit 141 executes processes based on various programs.

[0040] Furthermore, a part of the storage unit 142 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores various data and programs used in the processing of the control unit 141. The storage unit 142 can hold a database including one or more tables for recording various information, processing results, and the like.

[0041] The storage unit 142 stores various parameters used when the automatic staining apparatus 100 operates. For example, it is possible to store various pieces of information received by the input unit 143.

[0042] The programs stored in the memory unit 142 include, for example, an OS (Operating System) for realizing the basic functions of the control means 140, drivers for controlling various hardware, programs for realizing various functions, etc., and include programs used for processing by the control means 140.

[0043] (3) Input Unit 143 The input unit 143 may include, for example, one or more of a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a microphone, a touch screen, buttons, etc. The input unit 143 accepts input of various information by a user of the automatic staining device 100. The information includes, for example, the order in which the staining liquids are applied, the dripping times and drip amounts of the various staining liquids, the leaving time after dripping each staining liquid, and the start / end of device operation.

[0044] (4) Output Unit 144 The output unit 144 can output information such as the current dripping time and drip amount of the staining liquid during staining, the leaving time, etc. The output unit 144 is, for example, any display and / or speaker.

[0045] [Functional Configuration of Control Unit 140] As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 141 includes, as functional components, an acquisition unit 141a, a movement control unit 141b, and a dropping control unit 141c.

[0046] (1) Acquisition Unit 141a The acquisition unit 141a acquires various information received from the input unit 143 and operation information of the movement control unit 141b and the drip control unit 141c.

[0047] (2) Movement Control Unit 141b The movement control unit 141b controls the moving means 120 based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 141a. For example, upon acquiring information about the start of device operation, the movement control unit 141b can control the moving means 120 to move below the staining liquid dropping member 130a so that the dropping position of the staining liquid dropping member 130a containing the liquid to be applied is aligned with the staining liquid dropping portion 12b of the slide glass 1.

[0048] Furthermore, for example, after dripping the staining liquid, the movement control unit 141b can control the moving means 120 to alternately tilt or vibrate the slide glass 1 toward the long side during the standing time. Furthermore, for example, the movement control unit 141b can control the moving means 120 to tilt the slide glass 1 after the standing time has elapsed.

[0049] (3) Dripping control unit 141c The dripping control unit 141c controls each of the plurality of staining liquid dripping members 130a based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 141a. For example, when the moving means 120 has completed the downward movement of the first staining liquid dripping member 130a, the dripping control unit 141c can control the first staining liquid dripping member 130a to drip a predetermined amount of staining liquid.

[0050] 1.3 Staining Method A staining method using the slide glass 1 will be described. The staining method according to this embodiment includes a specimen dropping step and a staining step. In this embodiment, the specimen dropping step is performed by a technician, and the staining step is performed by the automatic staining device 100. Note that the specimen dropping step may be performed by the automatic staining device 100 or another device.

[0051] 1.3.1 Specimen Dropping Step In the specimen dropping step, a specimen is dropped into the smeared area 12 on the slide glass 1. Specifically, a predetermined amount of specimen is dropped into the specimen dropping area 12a according to the size of the specimen dropping area 12a. In this embodiment, the predetermined amount is 15 μl. After dropping the specimen, the specimen is dried until it can be stained.

[0052] 1.3.2 Staining Process The staining process includes a staining liquid dropping process, a leaving process, and a discharging process. Before starting the staining liquid dropping process, the user attaches the slide glass 1 with the specimen prepared in the specimen dropping process to the gripping means 110 of the automatic staining apparatus 100 and inputs various information into the input unit 143 to start the operation of the apparatus.

[0053] (1) Staining Liquid Dropping Step In the staining liquid dropping step, the staining liquid is dropped at a position different from the position where the specimen was dropped within the smeared area 12 on the slide glass 1. Specifically, the movement control unit 141b moves the moving means 120 so that the desired dropping position from the staining liquid dropping member 130a is located at the staining liquid dropping portion 12b of the slide glass 1 held by the gripping unit.

[0054] When the movement of the moving means 120 is completed, the drip control unit 141c controls the staining liquid dripping means 130 to drip the staining liquid from the corresponding staining liquid dripping member 130a. The drip control unit 141c controls the staining liquid dripping means 130 so that the amount of dripping becomes a predetermined amount.

[0055] (2) Leaving Step Once the staining liquid dropping step is completed, the leaving step begins. In the leaving step, the liquid dropped on the slide glass 1 is held for a predetermined time. In the leaving step, the movement control unit 141b controls the moving unit to alternately tilt or vibrate the slide glass 1 depending on the staining liquid to be applied. Through this operation, the specimen on the slide glass 1 is stained or decolorized.

[0056] (3) Discharge Step After the predetermined time has elapsed and the leaving step is completed, the discharge step is initiated. In the discharge step, the movement control unit 141b controls the moving means 120 to tilt the slide glass 1 toward the short side of the slide glass 1 that is not gripped by the gripping means 110 or toward one of the long sides, thereby discharging the staining liquid from the slide.

[0057] In the dyeing method of this embodiment, the dyeing liquid dropping step to the discharging step are repeated until all of the dyeing liquid has been applied. Depending on the liquid to be applied, the discharging step may be performed without performing the leaving step.

[0058] 2. Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, and the content described in the first embodiment can also be applied to this embodiment as long as it does not contradict the spirit of the first embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is the shape of the smeared region 12. The following description will focus on this difference.

[0059] The smeared region 12 is shaped into a cornerless shape by the outer region 11. In the illustrated example, the smeared region 12 is circular, but it may be configured into an oval or elliptical shape, for example. By configuring the smeared region 12 into such a cornerless shape, surface tension is more likely to act on the sample or staining liquid being dropped, and it is possible to prevent various liquids from leaking out of the smeared region 12. The smeared region 12 may also be formed into any polygonal shape.

[0060] Each smeared region 12 includes a specimen surrounding portion 15. The specimen surrounding portion 15 is configured in an annular shape and has at least one notch 15c formed on its outer periphery, thereby forming the specimen surrounding portion 15 within the smeared region 12. In this embodiment, the specimen drop portion 12a is a region within the specimen surrounding portion 15, and the staining liquid drop portion 12b is a region within the smeared region 12 but outside the specimen surrounding portion 15.

[0061] The specimen surrounding portion 15 is formed by applying an antifouling treatment to the glass slide 1. Specifically, like the outer region 11, the specimen surrounding portion 15 is formed by applying one or more substances selected from a hydrophobic substance, an oleophobic substance, or a substance having both hydrophobic and oleophobic properties to the glass slide 1. The specimen surrounding portion 15 may be made of the same substance as the outer region 11, or may be made of a different substance.

[0062] The inner diameter L3 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 is 2 to 15 mm, preferably 4 to 6 mm, and more preferably 5 mm. Specifically, the inner diameter L3 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 may be, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 mm, or may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here.

[0063] By designating the area enclosed by the specimen enclosure 15 as the specimen drop portion 12a, the position of the specimen drop portion 12a can be shifted from the staining liquid drop portion 12b, reducing the amount of specimen dropped and shortening the drying time of the specimen. Specifically, when the inner diameter L3 of the specimen enclosure 15 is within the above range, the amount of specimen dropped is 5 μl, and for this amount of specimen, the drying time can be kept to less than 30 minutes. Furthermore, the circular shape of the specimen drop portion 12a enclosed by the specimen enclosure 15 allows for a uniform distribution of bacteria.

[0064] The width T1 of the specimen surrounding portion 15 where the notch 15c is formed is 0.1 to 2 mm. Specifically, the width T1 of the specimen surrounding portion 15 where the notch 15c is formed may be, for example, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0 mm, or may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here.

[0065] Specifically, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 notches 15c are formed in the specimen surrounding portion 15. By forming the width T1 of the specimen surrounding portion 15 where the notches 15c are formed within the above range and by forming the above number of notches 15c, when the staining liquid is dropped onto the smeared region 12 outside the specimen surrounding portion 15, the staining liquid can pass through the notches 15c and over the specimen surrounding portion 15, and adhere to the specimen at the specimen dropping portion 12a.

[0066] The width T2 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 is 1 to 3 mm. Specifically, the width T2 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 may be, for example, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, or 3.0 mm, or may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here. Because the width T2 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 is within the above range and the inner periphery of the specimen enclosing portion 15 is circular, any liquid that enters the specimen enclosing portion 15 can be retained within the specimen enclosing portion 15 by surface tension.

[0067] When multiple notches 15c are provided, the notches 15c are preferably spaced equally apart. By forming the notches 15c at equal intervals, the staining liquid can be evenly applied to the specimen. Furthermore, the notches 15c are preferably triangular in shape as shown in FIG. 5 so that the staining liquid can easily flow into the specimen enclosure 15.

[0068] 3. Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6. This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, and the contents described in the second embodiment can also be applied to this embodiment as long as they do not contradict the spirit of the second embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the second embodiment is the shape of the specimen surrounding portion 15. The following description will focus on these differences.

[0069] The smeared area 12 is shaped into a quadrangle by the outer area 11. In the illustrated example, the smeared area 12 is quadrangle, but it may be configured to have, for example, a circular, oval, or elliptical shape.

[0070] The specimen enclosure 15 is formed within the smeared region 12 by applying an antifouling treatment to the broken-line annular shape. Here, the broken-line annular shape does not necessarily mean a completely closed loop, as long as it has at least a partially open portion. In the example of FIG. 6 , the specimen enclosure 15 has four openings 15a. In this embodiment, the specimen drop portion 12a is the region within the specimen enclosure 15. The staining liquid drop portion 12b is the region within the smeared region 12 but outside the specimen enclosure 15.

[0071] The length L5 of the inner diameter side of the opening 15a is 0.1 to 1 mm, and specifically, the length L5 of the inner diameter side of the opening 15a may be, for example, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or 1.0 mm, or may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here.

[0072] In this configuration, the specimen that is dropped directly into the specimen enclosure 15 has the property of becoming round due to surface tension, and therefore is unlikely to flow out of the circular specimen enclosure 15, even though it has the opening 15a. On the other hand, by dropping the staining liquid from outside the specimen enclosure 15, the staining liquid is likely to flow into the specimen dropping portion 12a through the opening 15a.

[0073] The inner diameter L4 of the specimen surrounding portion 15 is 2 to 15 mm, preferably 6 to 8 mm, and more preferably 7 mm. Specifically, the inner diameter L4 of the specimen surrounding portion 15 may be, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 mm, or may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here.

[0074] When the inner diameter L4 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 is within the above range, the amount of specimen dropped is 10 μl, and for this amount of specimen, the drying time can be reduced to approximately 30 minutes.

[0075] 4. Fourth Embodiment A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7 . This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, and the content described in the first embodiment can also be applied to this embodiment as long as it does not contradict the spirit of the first embodiment. The main difference between the first and second embodiments is the shape of the smeared region 12. The following description will focus on this difference.

[0076] Each of the plurality of smeared regions 12 is oval in shape. In this embodiment, the specimen drop portion 12a is an area on one major axis side of the smeared region 12, and the staining liquid drop portion 12b is an area on the other major axis side of the smeared region 12. In Fig. 7, for ease of understanding, a dashed line is drawn at the boundary between the specimen drop portion 12a and the staining liquid drop portion 12b.

[0077] The minor axis L6 of the smeared region 12 is 5 to 10 mm, preferably 6 to 8 mm, and more preferably 7 mm. Specifically, the minor axis L6 of the smeared region 12 may be, for example, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, or 10 mm, and may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here. When the minor axis L6 of the smeared region 12 is within this range, the amount of sample dispensed is approximately 20 μl, and the drying time for this amount of sample can be approximately one hour.

[0078] 5. Fifth Embodiment 5.1 Configuration of the Slide Glass 1 A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, and the content described in the first embodiment can also be applied to this embodiment as long as it does not contradict the spirit of the first embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is the shape of the smeared region 12. The following description will focus on this difference.

[0079] The slide glass 1 of this embodiment has one specimen area. Therefore, one specimen can be stained using the slide glass 1 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the slide glass 1 is preferably used for specimens with relatively high viscosity, such as blood, sputum, and bile.

[0080] The painted area 12 is rectangular in shape, with a notch formed on at least one short side and at least one long side. In other words, the notches of the painted area 12 are protrusions of the outer area 11. In the illustrated example, one vertical notch 16a is formed at the midpoint of each short side, and first to third horizontal notches 16b1 to 16b3 are formed at equal intervals along one long side.

[0081] Because the specimen used in this embodiment is highly viscous, a technician must spread the specimen on the glass slide 1. In this glass slide 1, the notches function as scales. That is, by applying the specimen to the intersection of the vertical notch 16a and the horizontal notch 16b, the specimen can be applied to a fixed location, thereby ensuring that the specimen is applied to the observation position of the staining device.

[0082] In the example of Fig. 8, the notches are configured in a triangular shape, but the shape of the notches is not particularly limited as long as they can function as scales. For example, they may be configured in a rectangular or semicircular shape.

[0083] 8, the specimen drop portion 12a according to this embodiment is the portion where a line extending from the vertical notch 16a intersects with lines (shown as dashed lines) extending from the first to third horizontal notches 16b1 to 16b3. In this example, the specimen can be spread from the portion where the first horizontal notch 16b1 and the vertical notch 16a intersect in the longitudinal direction of the slide glass 1 toward the portion where the third horizontal notch 16b3 and the vertical notch 16a intersect.

[0084] The staining liquid drop portion 12b according to this embodiment is a region of a predetermined length from the longitudinal end of the smeared region 12. For ease of understanding, the end of the staining liquid drop portion 12b is indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 8. The predetermined length is, for example, 10 to 50% of the length of the short side of the smeared region 12, and more specifically, may be, for example, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50%, or may be within a range between any two of the numerical values ​​exemplified here.

[0085] A notch (not shown) for the staining liquid drop portion 12b may be further provided at a position of a length corresponding to the staining liquid drop portion 12b on the short side of the smeared area 12. This configuration makes it possible to more clearly define the area of ​​the staining liquid drop portion 12b.

[0086] 5.2 Staining Method In the staining method according to this embodiment, in the sample dropping step, the sample is dropped onto the sample dropping portion 12a on the first horizontal axis notch 16b1 side, and then the sample is spread to the sample dropping portion 12a on the third horizontal axis notch 16b3 side.

[0087] 6. Sixth Embodiment A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described using Figures 9A to 9F and 10. This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, and the details described in the other embodiments can also be applied to this embodiment as long as they do not contradict the spirit of the second embodiment.

[0088] 9A to 9F show six views of the slide glass 1 according to this embodiment. In the drawings, the areas where the antifouling treatment is applied, such as the outer region 11, are shown in color, while the other areas are transparent. In the bottom view shown in FIG. 9B, the antifouling pattern in the plan view of FIG. 9A is merely visible through the bottom view, and no pattern is applied to the bottom surface.

[0089] Because the antifouling treatment is applied very thinly to the surface of the slide glass 1, the pattern of the antifouling treatment is omitted in the front view, back view, left side view, and right side view shown in Figures 9C to 9F. In addition, the front view, back view, left side view, and right side view shown in Figures 9C to 9F are the same for slide glasses 1 other than those of this embodiment, and therefore are not shown in other embodiments.

[0090] In the illustrated example, specimen enclosure 15 is configured in an annular shape, and multiple notches 15c are formed on its outer periphery. In this embodiment, notch 15c is defined by a pair of convex portions 15c1, 15c2 that form both sides of notch 15c. In other words, notch 15c is formed by convex portions 15c1, 15c2 that have a curved convex shape on its outer periphery. Convex portions 15c1, 15c2 may also be arc-shaped. These notches 15c give specimen enclosure 15 an overall petal-like shape. This shape smoothly guides the staining liquid and promotes smooth flow from the outside to the inside of the enclosure.

[0091] 11A and 11B, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment, and the contents described in the other embodiments can also be applied to this embodiment as long as they do not contradict the spirit of the sixth embodiment.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 11A , the smeared region 12 of this embodiment has a generally hexagonal, house-shaped outer shape, with one side of a rectangle connected to the bottom of a trapezoid. At least some of the corners may be rounded, such as chamfered. In the example of FIG. 11A , some corners of the rectangular portion where the specimen enclosure 15 is located are rounded. Furthermore, a guide portion 18 with an antifouling treatment is formed in the trapezoidal portion of the smeared region 12, independent of the outer region 11. The guide portion 18 functions as a guide to guide the dripped staining liquid evenly to the two specimen enclosures 15. In this embodiment, the guide portion 18 is formed in the shape of an isosceles triangle, with its base facing the specimen enclosure 15. Furthermore, the guide portion 18 is preferably positioned closer to the staining liquid dripping portion 12b than the specimen enclosure 15 and equidistant from each of the two specimen enclosures 15, so that the staining liquid can be guided evenly to the two specimen enclosures 15. In other words, it is preferable to place it on the staining liquid dropping portion 12b side in the center between the specimen surrounding portions 15.

[0093] Two specimen enclosures 15 are formed in the rectangular portion of the smear region 12. This allows two specimens to be processed simultaneously on a single slide glass 1. Similar to the sixth embodiment, each specimen enclosure 15 has a notch 15c formed by curved inwardly convex sides, giving it a petal-like shape. Furthermore, these two specimen enclosures 15 are arranged side by side in the short-side direction near the end of the slide glass 1 opposite the gripping region 20 in the longitudinal direction. This arrangement, combined with the configuration of the gripping region 20 and the staining liquid drop portion 12b described below, allows the staining liquid to be evenly distributed, resulting in uniform staining effects for specimens smeared on multiple specimen enclosures 15.

[0094] In the smeared region 12 shown in Figure 11A, the staining liquid drop portion 12b is the portion of the smeared region 12 closer to the gripping region 20 than the guide portion 18. In Figure 11A, for ease of understanding, the region corresponding to the staining liquid drop portion 12b is indicated by a dashed line. The staining liquid dropped onto the staining liquid drop portion 12b is distributed evenly to the left and right by the guide portion 18 and efficiently guided to the two specimen enclosures 15. This results in a uniform staining effect on each specimen, and has the effect of suppressing the occurrence of uneven staining.

[0095] The shape of the guide portion 18 is not limited to the triangle shown in this embodiment, and can be any shape that can evenly distribute the staining liquid toward each specimen enclosure 15. For example, the guide portion 18 can be Y-shaped with two branches at the tip.

[0096] Furthermore, the slide glass 1 may have an identification portion 19 formed thereon. The identification portion 19 serves as a mark for identifying each specimen when multiple specimens are stained on one slide glass 1, as shown in FIG. 11A . In the example of FIG. 11A , the identification portion 19 is formed in the shape of the letters A and B so that the outer region 11 is hollowed out. The shape of the identification portion 19 may not be an alphabet, but may be a number or any other mark.

[0097] The identification section 19 may be formed in any location other than the outer region 11, as long as it is in a region other than the smear region 12 and in a position where the sample can be identified. For example, the identification section 19 may be formed in the grip region 20. When the identification section 19 is formed in a region that has been subjected to an antifouling treatment, it is formed by not performing the antifouling treatment, and when it is formed in a region that has not been subjected to an antifouling treatment, it is formed by performing the antifouling treatment.

[0098] 12A and 12B, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is similar to the third embodiment, and the contents described in the other embodiments can also be applied to this embodiment as long as they do not contradict the spirit of the third embodiment.

[0099] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12A , the specimen enclosure 15 is formed in the smeared region 12 by applying an antifouling treatment to the broken-line annular shape. Here, the broken-line annular specimen enclosure 15 has inlet portions 15b spaced at intervals greater than the length L5 of the inner diameter of the openings 15a, which is the spacing between the other broken lines. The spacing between the inlet portions 15b is the length L6 along the inner diameter of the annular shape of the specimen enclosure 15. The length L6 of the inlet portions 15b is 2 to 5 times the length L5 of the openings 15a. Specifically, for example, the length L6 of the inlet portions 15b may be 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, or 5.0 times the length L5 of the openings 15a, or may be within a range between any two of the values ​​exemplified here.

[0100] With this configuration, the staining liquid dropped into the staining liquid dropping portion 12b can flow more efficiently from the inflow portion 15b into the specimen dropping portion 12a (inside the specimen enclosure 15).

[0101] 9. Other Embodiments The present invention can also be implemented in the following aspects. (1) Discharge Section 17 A discharge section 17 may be provided in all of the above-described embodiments. FIG. 13 shows an example in which a discharge section 17 is provided in the first embodiment. The discharge section 17 is formed so as to penetrate from the outer periphery of the smeared region 12 through the outer region 11 toward the edge of the slide glass 1. By providing the discharge section 17, the flow direction of the staining liquid can be determined. This makes it possible to further reduce the risk of the staining liquid overflowing from one smeared region 12 and flowing into an adjacent smeared region 12, causing contamination.

[0102] (2) Antifouling Treatment In the above-described embodiment, the outer region 11 is configured to be antifouling-treated by applying a single substance, but it may be configured to be antifouling-treated by applying multiple substances. Specifically, the outer region 11 may include a water-repellent region 11a to which a hydrophobic substance is applied and an oil-repellent region 11b to which an oil-repellent substance is applied. Figure 14 shows an example in which the water-repellent region 11a and the oil-repellent region 11b are formed in the fourth embodiment. In this configuration, the water-repellent region 11a and the oil-repellent region 11b may be arranged in reverse.

[0103] In this example, the oil-repellent region 11b is provided so as to form the outer periphery of the smeared region 12. The water-repellent region 11a is provided from the outer periphery of the oil-repellent region 11b to cover the entire test region 10. When the outer region 11 is formed of a single substance, such as a hydrophobic substance, as in the above-described embodiment, the organic solvent is not repelled by the hydrophobic substance and therefore tends to flow out of the smeared region 12. Therefore, by combining the oil-repellent region 11b and the water-repellent region 11a, it is possible to prevent the liquid from flowing out of the smeared region 12 regardless of the properties of the staining liquid.

[0104] (3) Barrier 21 The barrier 21 may be formed in any shape as long as it prevents the staining liquid from adhering to the gripping means 110. For example, as shown in Fig. 15, the barrier 21 may be formed in a U-shape so as to surround the portion gripped by the gripping means 110.

[0105] Specific examples of the slide glass according to the present invention will be described below.

[0106] Example 1: Evaluation of liquid retention performance A prototype slide glass was produced in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the slide glass 1 of the present invention, with the inner diameter L3 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 being 7 mm, the width T1 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 at the portion where the notch is formed being 0.75 mm, and the width T2 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 being 2 mm.

[0107] 50 μL of pure water was dropped onto the inside of the specimen enclosure 15 (specimen drop portion 12a) of this slide glass. As a result, the dropped liquid was entirely held within the specimen enclosure 15 due to surface tension and did not leak out through the notch. Furthermore, even when the slide glass was tilted at a 45-degree angle, the liquid was stably held within the specimen enclosure 15.

[0108] These results demonstrate that the slide glass of the present invention has excellent liquid retention properties, capable of retaining liquid within the area where the sample is dropped, even when the amount of liquid used is significantly greater than the expected amount, or when the slide glass is tilted during transportation.

[0109] Example 2: Evaluation of liquid inflow performance A prototype slide glass was produced in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the slide glass 1 of the present invention, with the inner diameter L3 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 being 7 mm, the width T1 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 at the portion where the notch is formed being 1 mm, and the width T2 of the specimen enclosing portion 15 being 2 mm.

[0110] Pure water was dropped onto the outside of the specimen enclosure 15 (staining liquid drop portion 12b) of this slide glass. As a result, it was visually confirmed that the liquid quickly and smoothly flowed into the specimen enclosure 15 from each notch.

[0111] From these results, it was confirmed that the notch structure of the present invention functions effectively in gently introducing the staining liquid into the specimen portion.

[0112] Example 3: Evaluation using actual staining solution Evaluation was performed using crystal violet, which is used in actual Gram staining, using the same slide glass as used in Example 2. When the staining solution was dropped onto the outside of the specimen enclosure 15, it was observed that the staining solution spread evenly along the notch to the inside, as in Example 2.

[0113] These results demonstrate that the slide glass of the present invention functions as intended not only with experimental liquids but also with various staining solutions used in actual staining processes.

[0114] 1: slide glass, 10: test area, 11: outer area, 11a: water-repellent area, 11b: oil-repellent area, 12: smear area, 12a: specimen drop area, 12b: staining liquid drop area, 13: first area, 14: second area, 15: specimen enclosure, 15a: opening, 15b: inlet area, 15c: notch, 15c1: convex portion, 15c2: convex portion, 16a: vertical axis notch, 16b: horizontal axis notch, 16b1: first horizontal axis notch, 16b2: second horizontal axis notch, 16b3: third horizontal axis notch Notch, 17: Discharge section, 18: Guide section, 19: Recognition section, 20: Gripping area, 21: Barrier section, 21a: First barrier section, 21b: Second barrier section, 21c: Third barrier section, 100: Automatic staining device, 110: Gripping means, 120: Moving means, 130: Staining liquid dripping means, 130a: Staining liquid dripping member, 140: Control means, 141: Control section, 141a: Acquisition section, 141b: Movement control section, 141c: Dripping control section, 142: Memory section, 143: Input section, 144: Output section, 145: Communication bus

Claims

1. A glass slide comprising: a test area having an outer region and a smear region; the outer region is formed by applying an anti-fouling treatment to the glass slide; the smear region is shaped by being surrounded by the outer region; and the glass slide comprises a specimen drop portion and a staining liquid drop portion; the specimen drop portion and the staining liquid drop portion are positioned at different positions within the smear region.

2. A slide glass as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a gripping area extending over a predetermined length from one end of the short side of the slide glass and adjacent to the examination area, the gripping area comprising a barrier portion, the barrier portion being formed by applying a linear anti-fouling treatment to the gripping area on the side facing the examination area and across the short side of the slide glass.

3. A slide glass according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the smeared area comprises a first area and a second area, the first area and the second area are substantially circular and are arranged so as to be connected to each other to form a snowman-shaped smeared area, the specimen drop area is the first area, and the staining liquid drop area is the second area.

4. A slide glass according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the smeared area comprises a specimen enclosing portion, the specimen enclosing portion is annular and is formed within the smeared area by applying an antifouling treatment to the specimen enclosing portion so that at least one notch is formed around its outer periphery, the specimen dripping portion is an area within the specimen enclosing portion, and the staining liquid dripping portion is an area within the smeared area but outside the specimen enclosing portion.

5. A slide glass according to claim 4, wherein the notch is formed so that the outer periphery on both sides of the notch is curved and convex.

6. A slide glass according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the smeared area comprises a specimen enclosing portion, the specimen enclosing portion is formed in the smeared area by applying an anti-fouling treatment to the smeared area in the shape of a broken line ring, the specimen drop portion is arranged within the specimen enclosing portion, and the staining liquid drop portion is arranged within the smeared area but outside the specimen enclosing portion.

7. The slide glass according to claim 6, wherein the specimen surrounding portion has inflow portions formed at intervals greater than the intervals between the dashed lines.

8. A slide glass according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the smeared areas are each oval in shape, the specimen drop area is an area on one side of the major axis radius of the smeared area, and the staining liquid drop area is an area on the other side of the major axis radius of the smeared area.

9. A slide glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the smeared area is rectangular in shape and has a notch formed on at least one short side and at least one long side.

10. A method for staining a specimen, comprising a specimen dropping step and a staining liquid dropping step, wherein in the specimen dropping step, the specimen is dropped into a smeared area on a slide glass, and in the staining liquid dropping step, the staining liquid is dropped into the smeared area on the slide glass at a position different from the position where the specimen was dropped.

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