Cell Morphology Analysis

Cell Morphology Analysis 

Examination of the manual differential is, in most haematology laboratories, a visual observation of cells on a stained blood film, the cells being compared to the shape, size and colour of standard cells. The difficulty with the manual differential is that examiners can differ subjectively in their interpretation of morphological detail thus producing different inter observer results. The manual differential is also time consuming and therefore automation of this analysis helps laboratories to standardise the analysis in a shorter period of time.

Automated digital image analysis is an increasingly important tool in today's haematology laboratory. The systems do automate and examine peripheral blood films including a pre-classification of white blood cells and characterisation of the red blood cells. The systems optimise the workflow of a haematology laboratory, standardises the differential count and reduces the analysis time.

CellaVision DM96 and DM8 are automated cell-locating image analysis system consisting of an automated microscope, a high quality digital camera and a computer system that collects and pre-classifies cells from a stained blood smear using acquisition and classification software. The motorised microscope automatically locates cells on the slide. For every cell found an image is taken, analysed and pre-classified by means of advanced image processing.

The results are presented clearly on the computer monitor and all cells of the same class can be displayed at the same time. The systems also do present an RBC overview image to characterise the red blood cell morphology. All images and differential results are stored in a comprehensive database.