To provide a system for staining and covering specimen support, which guarantees the greatest possible degree of automation in the handling of specimen support and can minimize manual operations of a user during staining and subsequent covering (mounting of a covering member, e.g. a cover glass) of the specimen support.

The system comprises a first part having an automatic coloring device, in which a transport device is provided for handling racks capable of carrying specimen support, and a second part having an automatic covering device. The transport device (5) transfers racks (4) capable of carrying specimen support from the automatic stainer (1) directly to the automatic covering device (20). The automatic stainer (1) and automatic covering device (20) are each surrounded by an individual housing (2, 22) and constitute a separately closed or independent system.