BenchMark Special Stains system

Empowering Special Stains with consistent quality, workflow efficiency and improved safety through automated slide staining and ready-to-use reagents.

The BenchMark Special Stains system enhances workflow with proven technology

Anatomic Pathology

The BenchMark Special Stains system offers a new level of automation for Special Stains.

Productivity features such as the ability to run any test next to any other test and waste fluid sensing optimize workflow. Reducing manual processes and improving lab capabilities allows your skilled laboratory professionals to focus on higher value contributions.

Additionally, an intuitive user interface (Ventana System Software) connects up to eight BenchMark Special Stains and IHC/ISH instruments, enabling seamless integration and easy adoption for lab personnel.

BenchMark Special Stains instrument and providers

The BenchMark Special Stains system brings full automation to the anatomic pathology laboratory for Special Stains to enhance confidence with a more informed diagnosis.

Consistent quality

Optimize assays with customizable protocols and leverage automation to eliminate technician variability for reproducible, high quality stains.

Jones Staining Kit images (pictured at left) demonstrate customizable staining achieved with different protocol selections.

Enhanced workflow efficiency

Eliminate manual processes with ready-to-use reagents, fully automated baking, deparaffinization and staining, and independent slide heating
Slide carousel holds 1–20 slides with independent temperature control for each position
Free standing or modified benchtop installation
Bulk fluid and waste capacities designed to support a minimum of three full runs

BenchMark Special Stains instrument workflow image

Roche BenchMark Special Stains instrument image for safety

Improved safety

Ready-to-use reagents reduce technician exposure to, and handling of, hazardous chemicals
Bulk fluid volume sensing automatically detects waste fluid levels to prevent spills or overflow
Barcoded slides and reagents ensure the right test for the right patient
Individual slide staining virtually eliminates cross-contamination

Experience advanced support

CareGiver remote support establishes a communication link between the BenchMark Special Stains instrument and the Roche customer support center, delivering remote troubleshooting and training, software upgrades over the internet and over-the-shoulder help from Roche service experts.

Learn more

Special Stains assay menu

BenchMark Special Stains AFB Staining Kit 08432503001

Alcian Blue Staining Kit 05279186001

Alcian Yellow Staining Kit 05279321001

Congo Red Staining Kit 05279429001

Elastic Staining Kit 05279216001

Giemsa Staining Kit 05279224001

GMS II Staining Kit 05412749001

Gram Staining Kit 06890105001

Iron Staining Kit 05279259001

Jones Staining Kit 05279348001

Jones Light Green Staining Kit 05279356001

Mucicarmine Staining Kit 05279275001

PAS Staining Kit 05279291001

Alcian Blue for PAS 05279194001

Diastase Kit 05279208001

Light Green for PAS 05279267001

Reticulum II Staining Kit 05279399001

Steiner II Staining Kit 06521894001

Trichrome Staining Kit 06521908001

Green for Trichrome 06521916001

The Clinical Value of Special Stains

Dr. Eric Walk portrait, Roche Tissue Diagnostics

"Special Stains provide incremental information beyond H&E and immunohistochemistry, helping to resolve differential diagnostic challenges that can't be addressed any other way. The value of Special Stains, then,is as a diagnostic decision support tool in cancer as well as in many non-cancer diagnostic scenarios".

Eric E. Walk, MD, FCAP
Chief Medical & Scientific Officer – SVP, Medical & Scientific Affairs Roche Tissue Diagnostics

The Clinical Value of Special Stains

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An educational video featuring Roche Tissue Diagnostics pathologist, Dr. Michael Lynch, explaining the importance of using Special Stains in histopathology. (5 minutes)

Related resources

BenchMark Special Stains product guide

Special Stains general reference guide

SaferPath.org

Roche special stains product and reference guides image

General characteristics

Fully automated

Baking, deparaffinization and staining of Special Stains
Slide carousel

1–20 slides with independent temperature control for each position
Reagent carousel

25 reagent positions
Slides

25 mm x 75 mm or 26 mm x 76 mm Superfrost Plus
Bulk fluids

Up to four bulk fluids in 3-6 L on-board containers
DI water quality specifications

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline C3-A4 Clinical Laboratory Reagent Water (CLRW)
Modularity

1–8 BenchMark instruments may be controlled from one PC
Configuration

Free standing or modified benchtop installation
Certifications

CSA, EMC, CE compliant
Ordering code

06657389001

Temperature control

Instrument operational temperature

37°C–75°C (98°F–167°F)

Environmental requirements

Heat

1200 BTU/Hr
Operating temperature

15°C to 30°C (64°F to 90°F)
Humidity

20% to 80%, non-condensing

Electrical specifications

Voltage

100 VAC +/- 10% (Japan), 120 VAC +/- 10% (US & Canada), 230 VAC +/- 10% (Europe)
Current

4 Amps
Frequency

50/60 Hz
Power connection

Standard 3-prong grounded
Fuse

Waste module: 6.3 Amps, 250 Volts, 5 mm x 20 mm, fast acting

Instrument physical characteristics

Size (W x D x H)

50.8 cm x 63 cm x 135.4 cm (20 in x 25 in x 53.3 in)
Weight

76.7 kg (165.7 lbs)
Clearances

Rear 15.2 cm (6 in)
Top 30.5 cm (12 in)
Left side 7.6 cm (3 in)
Right side 61 cm (24 in) to open door to 90°
Right side 101.6 cm (40 in) to open door to 180°
Front 108 cm (42.5 in)