a method and system for automatically evaluating quality of a slide - mounted tissue sample includes receiving a digital image of a magnified portion of the slide - mounted tissue sample . at least one quantitative quality indicator is automatically determined for at least one of the samples , and the digital image of the magnified portion of the sample . each of the quantitative quality indicators is automatically compared to a respective minimum acceptable quality threshold . the quantitative quality indicators and associated quality thresholds are selected for suitability with an automated quantitative immunoassay . failure of one or more of the quantitative quality indicators to meet its respective minimum acceptable quality threshold suggests that the sample is unsuitable for subsequent automated pathological evaluation . results can be examined at a user interface allowing for user inspection of samples determined to be unsuitable , the user interface also having provisions for manual override of the determination .