A centrifuge chamber for cytodiagnostic investigation of epithelial cells contained in a sample, wherein a cell suspension investigated is placed in a first bore of a sample chamber containing a plurality of bores disposed parallel to one another and subjected to a centrifuging process. During a centrifuging process, the sample fluid is separated into a proximal fraction and a distal fraction, and the proximal fraction is then separated by the centrifuging process so that it is transferred via a flow connection provided between the first and second bores, into the second bore. In addition to automatic separation of the proximal and distal fractions during the centrifuging process, it is also possible to perform a staining procedure during the centrifuging process. The result of the process is a slide, having at least two different slide fields, whereby the slide field associated with the first bore is coated with the epithelial cells to be investigated and then stained, while the slide field associated with the second bore is stained as a control field, likewise during the centrifuging process.

A slide glass rack for use in a centrifugal apparatus has a slide glass accommodating concave that opens upward, and a flange provided on an upper outer peripheral surface of the rack. A centrifugal apparatus that uses the slide glass rack comprises a rotor, wherein the rotor is formed at a peripheral edge thereof with an inclined face extending upward obliquely with a predetermined angle, the inclined face being formed with a rectangular hole through which a slide glass rack is inserted, the flange of the rack is supported by the peripheral edges of the rectangular hole.

A slide for depositing for observation material under a microscope comprising a mounting surface to receive material for observation and a removable layer on the mounting surface formed with at least one opening in the removable layer to define at least one exposed region on the mounting surface for retaining material to be observed when the removable layer is detached. The exposed region has definite boundaries and any material to be examined remaining on the slide is confined to the exposed region to facilitate examination of the slide by human visual identification or machine vision by making material easier to locate, by limiting material to regions appropriate for best observation (e.g. away from edges of the slide and coverglass), and by limiting the amount of material or area covered by material to permit quick and rigorous observation and analysis. A method for using slides according to the present invention is also disclosed.

A chamber block for a centrifuge is provided with an inlet orifice, inlet channel, outlet channel and outlet orifice through which a sample of cells and supernatant may be centrifuged onto a deposition surface. The chamber block includes a recess sized to receive a plug of an absorbent material which withdraws excess supernatant from the deposition surface.

An arrangement for withdrawing supernatant from a deposition surface is provided for use with a cytocentrifuge chamber block. The block receives an absorbent plug in a recess provided therein. The plug is restrained from movement past a predetermined point until a predetermined insertion force corresponding to a predetermined rotor speed is imposed on the plug. At that time a resilient restraining arrangement deflects to permit the plug to advance with respect to the block. The restraining arrangement preferably takes the form of tines resiliently mounted to the plug.