Method and apparatus for assessing slide and specimen preparation quality
First Claim
1. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
- a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation, wherein the step of evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality further comprises evaluating physical characteristics of the slide; and
b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated biological specimen screener reports an assessment of slide and specimen preparation and quality. The automated biological specimen screener measures, parameters which reflect slide physical characteristics, specimen collection quality, and specimen preparation quality. The automated system reports an objective measure and uses a consistent standard of evaluation. The automated system evaluates characteristics of a slide set from a clinic. The automated system makes a determination of whether these characteristics are within a training capability of a given automated biological screener. Additionally, rather than periodic reviews, slides successfully scanned by the automated system may be used as part of a specimen preparation assessment.
-
Citations
54 Claims
-
1. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation, wherein the step of evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality further comprises evaluating physical characteristics of the slide; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation, wherein the step of evaluating slide and specimen quality further comprises evaluating handling quality of the slide; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality, wherein the step of evaluating specimen material quality further comprises the step of checking whether a distribution of viewable specimen material on the slide meets predetermined criteria; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
31. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality, and wherein the slide is viewed by an automated system having an imager, and wherein the imager is capable of focusing on a specimen, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality, and wherein the step of evaluating specimen material quality further comprises the step of checking whether the automated system has successfully focused on more than a predetermined number of regions of the specimen; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
32. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality, wherein the step of evaluating specimen material quality further comprises the step of checking whether a specimen is tilted more than a predetermined degree; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
33. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality, wherein the step of evaluating specimen material quality further comprises the step of checking whether there are fewer than a predetermined number of fields ranked after a low power magnification scan; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
34. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality, wherein the step of evaluating specimen material quality further comprises the step of checking whether there are fewer than a predetermined number of points for a high power magnification focus surface model to be created; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
35. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality wherein the step of evaluating specimen material quality further comprises the step of checking whether a high power focus surface is more variable than a predetermined amount; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
36. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality wherein the step of evaluating specimen material quality further comprises the step of checking whether there are fewer than a predetermined number of focused fields in a high power scan; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation of the slide.
-
-
37. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality wherein the step of evaluating specimen material quality further comprises the step of checking whether there are fewer than a predetermined number of reference cells; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
38. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation by testing for preparation quality failures wherein the step of testing for preparation quality failures further comprises the step of checking for more bubble area on the slide than a predetermined amount b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
39. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation by testing for preparation quality failures wherein the step of testing for preparation quality failures further comprises the step of checking staining quality; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation where at least one parameter is measured, further comprising the step of determining whether the at least one parameter is within a training range of a preselected automated system; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
45. An apparatus for analyzing slide and specimen preparation quality for a population of slides comprising:
-
a) an image gathering means for obtaining image data, wherein the image data is representative of the population of slides; b) a means for calculating at least one slide quality measurement connected to receive the image data, having a slide quality data output and further comprising a means for testing slide physical characteristics connected to receive the image data and providing a slide physical characteristics data output connected to the slide quality data output; and c) a data processing system connected to receive and integrate the slide quality data output wherein the data processing system provides a population suitability data output. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
-
-
48. An apparatus for analyzing slide and specimen preparation quality for a population of slides comprising:
-
a) an image gathering means for obtaining image dam, wherein the image data is representative of the population of slides; b) a means for calculating at least one slide quality measurement connected to receive the image data, having a slide quality data output further comprising a means for testing slide handling quality connected to receive the image data and providing a slide handling quality data output connected to the slide quality data output; and c) a data processing system connected to receive and integrate the slide quality data output wherein the data processing system provides a population suitability data output.
-
-
49. An apparatus for analyzing slide and specimen preparation quality for a population of slides comprising:
-
a) an image gathering means for obtaining image data, wherein the image data is representative of the population of slides; b) a means for calculating at least one slide quality measurement connected to receive the image data, having a slide quality data output further comprising a means for testing system accuracy connected to receive the image data and providing a system accuracy data output connected to the slide quality data output; and c) a data processing system connected to receive and integrate the slide quality data output wherein the dam processing system provides a population suitability data output.
-
-
50. An apparatus for analyzing slide and specimen preparation quality for a population of slides comprising:
-
a) an image gathering means for obtaining image data, wherein the image data is representative of the population of slides; b) a means for calculating at least one slide quality measurement connected to receive the image data, having a slide quality data output; and c) a data processing system connected to receive and integrate the slide quality data output wherein the data processing system provides a population suitability data output further comprising a means for providing a recommendation for changes in slide handling techniques.
-
-
51. An apparatus for analyzing slide and specimen preparation quality for a population of slides comprising:
-
a) an image gathering means for obtaining image data, wherein the image data is representative of the population of slides; b) a means for calculating at least one slide quality measurement connected to receive the image data, having a slide quality data output; and c) a data processing system connected to receive and integrate the slide quality data output wherein the data processing system provides a population suitability data in specimen preparation techniques output further comprising a means for providing a recommendation for changes in specimen preparation techniques.
-
-
52. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality by checking whether there is less than a predetermined percentage of fields focused on an at least one initial try; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
53. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation of specimen material quality by checking whether there is more than a predetermined percentage of fields never focused; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation.
-
-
54. A method for testing a slide set for slide and specimen preparation quality comprising the steps of:
-
a) evaluating slide and specimen preparation quality for a slide in the slide set to produce an evaluation by testing for preparation quality failures by checking for fewer fields with sufficient ranking after a low power magnification scan than a predetermined amount; and b) determining the slide and specimen preparation quality of the slide set based on the evaluation of the slide.
-
Specification