The grossing stations available on the market may be of either chemical or biological nature, depending on the laboratory’s activities. In case of biological cabinets, a class (1, 2 or 3) is assigned based on the level of protection provided. Milestone introduced UltraGROSS, a Class 1 cabinet ensuring containment against chemical and biological agents. 
The front glass shield serves as a physical barrier between the sample and the operator, blocking the fumes and acting as an anti-splash guard. Its transparency ensures the operator to maintain maximum visibility from above during grossing. There are also funnels, that drain exhausted formalin directly into the dedicated tank in controlled conditions, and faucets for dispensing fresh formalin.
Additionally, an accessory system (VIROCLEAN EASY) can be installed to release a dry fog with a peroxide-based reagent (SUPRASPOR), for automatic and programmable decontamination protocols.

The operator should consistently experience comfort throughout the grossing procedure, considering the long work shift. The workspace should be easily accessible and the grossing station itself should be effortlessly movable for tasks like cleaning or laboratory renewals. With UltraGROSS advanced interface, operators can control all the system’s functions, including adjusting the height, turning the light on or off, managing the ventilation system and accessing filters’ information. The system is plug and play, requiring only a connection to the lab ventilation and a plug into the power supply.
UltraGROSS can be quickly moved and repositioned as it has built-in heavy-duty casters with locking brakes. The station is also equipped with an advanced sensor that monitors the operator’s presence and automatically switches the filters and the ventilation system on/off.

Modern laboratories are required to adhere to specific construction standards. An eventual absence of specific certifications significantly diminishes the quality standards of the systems. UltraGROSS complies with: 

• anthropometric requirements for the design of workstation at machinery (EN ISO 14738:2008).
• measurement and evaluation of human exposure to hand-transmitted mechanical vibration (EN ISO 5349-1:2004 and EN ISO 5349- 2:2015). 

The selection of the grossing station has a significant impact on the laboratory workflow. The decision must be based on some key pillars: 1) selecting equipment that ensures the operator safety, while protecting the integrity of the sample; 2) integrating an imaging system which ensures comprehensive documentation for specimen safety and provides supporting material for diagnosis; 3) selecting a modular and ergonomic system with a wide range of setup options and customizable working areas; 4) ensuring that the system’s certifications comply with high-quality working and safety standards, which are mandatory in modern laboratories.