Digital imaging in Hematology

Digital imaging/morphology makes use of digital images and software algorithms to classify hematological cells, such as leukocytes and red blood cells. For a subset of leukocytes, digital system classification correlates well with the manual microscope method, the gold standard. Digital imaging thereby leads to a faster, more efficient, and more standardized way of performing a morphological analysis of a peripheral blood smear. Future possible applications include the morphological analysis of other cell categories such as red blood cells and thrombocytes and digital analysis of other materials such as bone marrow samples

Morphological analysis of the peripheral blood smear (PBS) is an essential element of hematological diagnostics.1 Traditionally, the analysis of a PBS has been performed by using the manual microscope method. This method, however, is labor-intensive, requires continuous training of personnel, and is subject to relatively large inter-observer variability.2-4 The development of digital microscope systems, capable of using digital images of leukocytes, erythrocytes, and thrombocytes for classification, has been ongoing for more than a decade.

• The digital workflow in detail
• Lymphocyte pathology
• Blast cells
• Thrombocytes
• Red blood cell morphology
• Integration in daily practice
• Quality survey issues in digital imaging
• Integration of digital imaging with routine cell counter results