Specimen management system

Abstract

A tray system for storing and transporting specimens, such as slides and paraffin blocks, includes a first tray having a top face with a first portion including a plurality of first compartments and a second portion adjacent the first portion including a plurality of second compartments, a width of the first compartments greater than a width of the second compartments. A top rim extends upwardly from the top face along a periphery of the first portion, and a bottom rim extends downwardly from an opposed bottom face about a perimeter corresponding to the periphery of the first portion on the top face. A second tray has a top face including a plurality of generally rectangular compartments each including flanges extending only partially across the compartment. A top rim extends upwardly around a perimeter of the top face, and a bottom rim extends downwardly around a perimeter of a bottom face. Both the first and second tray top rims are configured to receive both the first and second tray bottom rims to allow for interchangeable stacking of the first and second trays.

1 . A tray for storing and transporting specimens, comprising:
 a top face and an opposed bottom face, the top face having a first portion including a plurality of first compartments sized to receive slides, and a second portion adjacent the first portion including a plurality of second compartments sized to receive paraffin blocks, the first compartments having a width greater than a width of the second compartments;   a top rim extending upwardly from the top face along a periphery of the first portion; and   a bottom rim extending downwardly from the bottom face about a perimeter corresponding to the periphery of the first portion on the top face.   
     
     
         2 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the top rim includes a notch at an end thereof opposite the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom rim is chamfered. 
     
     
         4 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom face includes ribs having a height approximately equal to a height of the bottom rim. 
     
     
         5 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the top rim includes grooves on opposing sides thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The tray according to  claim 5 , wherein the bottom rim includes recesses opposing the grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the proportion of first compartments to second compartments is about 4:1. 
     
     
         8 . A tray for storing and transporting specimens, comprising:
 a top face and an opposed bottom face, the top face including a plurality of generally rectangular compartments sized to receive slides, each compartment including flanges extending only partially across the compartment to define an area for receiving a paraffin block;   a top rim extending upwardly around a perimeter of the top face; and   a bottom rim extending downwardly around a perimeter of the bottom face.   
     
     
         9 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein the top rim includes a notch at an end thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein the bottom rim is chamfered. 
     
     
         11 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein the top rim includes grooves on opposing sides thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The tray according to  claim 12 , wherein the bottom rim includes recesses opposing the grooves. 
     
     
         13 . The tray according to  claim 12 , wherein the flanges extend approximately ½ of a width of the compartments. 
     
     
         14 . A tray system for storing and transporting specimens, comprising:
 a first tray configured to receive both slides and paraffin blocks, the first tray having a top face and an opposed bottom face, the first tray having a first portion including a plurality of first compartments and a second portion adjacent the first portion including a plurality of second compartments, a width of the first compartments greater than a width of the second compartments, a first tray top rim extending upwardly from the top face along a periphery of the first portion, and a first tray bottom rim extending downwardly from the bottom face about a perimeter corresponding to the periphery of the first portion on the top face; and   a second tray having compartments configured to receive both slides and paraffin blocks, the second tray having a top face and a bottom face, a second tray top rim extending upwardly around a perimeter of the top face, and a second tray bottom rim extending downwardly around a perimeter of the bottom face,   wherein both the first and second tray top rims are configured to receive both the first and second tray bottom rims to allow for interchangeable stacking of the first and second trays.   
     
     
         15 . The tray system according to  claim 14 , wherein the top rims of the first and second trays each include grooves on opposing sides thereof which are aligned when the first and second trays are disposed in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The tray system according to  claim 14 , wherein the second tray compartments include flanges extending only partially thereacross to define an area for receiving a paraffin block. 
     
     
         17 . The tray system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a third tray configured to receive slides, the third tray having a top face and an opposed bottom face, a third tray top rim extending upwardly around a perimeter of the top face, and a second tray bottom rim extending downwardly around a perimeter of the bottom face, wherein each of the first, second, and third tray top rims are configured to receive each of the first, second, and third tray bottom rims to allow for interchangeable stacking of the first, second, and third trays, wherein the third tray top rim includes grooves on opposing sides thereof that are aligned with the grooves of the first and second trays when the first, second, and third trays are disposed in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The tray system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a cover having a top face and an opposed bottom face, a cover bottom rim extending downwardly around a perimeter of the bottom face, wherein the cover bottom rim is configured to be received by both of the first and second tray top rims. 
     
     
         19 . The tray system according to  claim 18 , wherein the cover top rim includes grooves on opposing sides thereof that are aligned with the grooves of the first and second trays when the first and second trays and the cover are disposed in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The tray system according to  claim 14 , wherein an active RFID tag is placed on each tray, a bar code is placed on each slide and paraffin block, and another bar code is placed on each tray, wherein the data of each tray and its corresponding slides and paraffin blocks is linked to the information of the active RFID of the tray for tracking purposes.