# Histology automation and IHC autostainers

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/ihc-autostainers-histology-automation/  
OnCo record `ihc-autostainers-histology-automation` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Histology automation is the robots that process tissue into slides and stain them for biomarkers such as HER2 and PD-L1, the same way every time.

## Summary

Tissue processors, embedding stations, and microtomes (Sakura Tissue-Tek, Leica, Epredia) feed IHC/ISH autostainers (Roche VENTANA BenchMark ULTRA, Leica BOND, Agilent Dako Omnis, Sakura Tissue-Tek Genie) that run FDA-approved companion assays under locked protocols; staining platform, clone, and scoring guide are label-specific. Lab automation and tracking (barcoded cassettes and slides) reduce misidentification errors.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: standard-of-care
- Last checked: 2026-09-08
- Tags: supporting
- Principle: Automated reagent dispensing, incubation, and detection chemistry on slides with barcode-driven protocols and on-board quality controls.
- Strengths: Reproducibility across labs; Regulatory-approved closed assays
- Limitations: Vendor lock-in to reagent ecosystems; Assays not interchangeable across platforms; Capital cost for small labs

## Connected records

- fronts: [Diagnostics & Biomarkers](https://onco.cc/fronts/diagnostics/)
- technologies: [Companion diagnostics](https://onco.cc/technologies/companion-diagnostic/), [Histopathology & immunohistochemistry](https://onco.cc/technologies/histopathology-ihc/), [Reference laboratories and companion-diagnostic testing](https://onco.cc/technologies/reference-laboratories/), [Whole-slide scanners and image management](https://onco.cc/technologies/whole-slide-scanners/)
- companies: [Agilent Technologies (Dako)](https://onco.cc/companies/agilent/), [Leica Biosystems (Danaher)](https://onco.cc/companies/leica-biosystems/), [Roche / Genentech](https://onco.cc/companies/roche-genentech/), [Sakura Finetek](https://onco.cc/companies/sakura-finetek/)
- key papers: [International validation of the consensus Immunoscore for the classification of colon cancer](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-pages-immunoscore-international-validation-lancet-2018/)

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