[Automatization of microscopic blood smear analyses and quality control using reference virtual slides].

MEKOC microscopy complexes have a group of specialized automatic functions for medical analyses of biomaterials integrated with general virtual microscopy accessories. Such functions provide a way of making specialized reference virtual slides (RVS). The latter contain the results of virtual analysis or expert evidence of the automatic analysis results presented in the virtual slide. The use of RVS yields an open system with a step-by-step control of the quality of automatic operations. RVS as realistic preparation models are also used to train staff. The results of step-by-step trials of the MEKOC--2 are presented in the paper.

[Equipment components and system board for an automated microscopy system].

Characteristics of modern equipment components for general- or special-purpose modular systems of automated microscopy are considered. Medical, technical, and economic assessment of various configurations of automated microscopy systems is performed. These systems can be used in telemedicine and hematological, cytological, and parasitologic analysis. Schemes for optimization of the configuration of automated microscopy systems are described. The structure of MECOS-Ts2 automated microscopy systems is considered. The system board of MECOS-Ts2 systems makes it possible to use a wide variety of equipment components and software from different manufacturers.

[Automated MECOS-Ts2 microscopy complex in pathologoanatomic practice].

Computer-aided and information systems of a MECOS-Ts2 microscopy complex designed to transmit a representative image of a specimen along communication lines are considered. The above systems allow the use of the complex: 1) in on-line and off-line modes to provide tele-medical services (cytology, histology, etc.); moreover, the requirements for channel traffic may be decreased over and over again as compared to the routine on-line videomicroscopy mode; 2) for telemedical tests of specialized local automatic procedures of microscopical analysis (analysis of smears of blood and bone-marrow smears, parasitological analysis, etc.); 3) for collection of a representative electronic archive of the "virtual" specimens of rare nosological entities, which have been obtained in different medical institutions, w hich will provide valid statistical assessments of diagnostic decisions; 4) for remote accompaniment of MECOS-Ts2 complexes by the manufacture (update of versions, training, quality control of sample preparation, collection of commission statistics); 5) for training and certification of remote laboratory staff. The functions considered cannot be implemented in analyzers of other types, in flow analyzers, in particular.

[Automated procedures for microscopic analyses of blood smears: medical testing a MECOS-Ts2 complex].

The paper presents the results of medical tests of a group of computer-aided procedures for microscopic analysis by means of a MECOS-Ts2 complex (ZAO "MECOS", Russia), which have been conducted at the Republican Children's Clinical Hospital, the Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Traumatology, and Moscow City Clinical Hospital No. 23. Computer-aided procedures for calculating the differential count and for analyzing the morphology of red blood cells were tested on blood smears from a total of 443 patients and donors, computer-aided calculation of the count of reticulocytes was tested on 318 smears. The tests were carried out under the US standard NCCLS-H20A. Manual microscopy (443 smears) and flow blood analysis on a Coulter GEN*S (125 smears) were used as reference methods. The quality of collection of samples and laboriousness were additionally assessed. The certified MECOS-Ts2 subsystems were additionally used as reference tools. The tests indicated the advantage of computer-aided MECOS-Tsl2 complex microscopy over manual microscopy.

[An automated microscopy system MECOS-Ts2 and its trial use for blood and bone-marrow smear analysis].

Disadvantages of conventional procedures for testing of medical automated microscopy systems are considered. A testing procedure based on step-by-step testing of the system units is suggested. The procedure makes use of remote data analysis through communication lines. The structure of MECOS-Ts2 automated microscopy system and the procedure for its testing are considered.