Rapid On-Site Evaluation Technical Exercise Using Digital Pathology: Peer Comparison in an External Quality Assurance Setting.

BACKGROUND: The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPAQAP) is a world leader in the provision of external quality assurance (EQA) for pathology laboratories. The development and delivery of new programmes are designed to meet the evolving needs of our participants and pathology practice. A cytopathology technical programme was established in 2018 to provide proficiency testing in routine cytopreparatory techniques. The cytopathology technical pilot focused on standard operating procedures and laboratory performance during rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE). The exercise aimed to assess the diagnostic adequacy and provide technical recommendations on each of the whole slide images from four fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples of the thyroid in a setting of ROSE. METHODS: Four whole slide imaging cases, each comprising one Diff-QuikTM stained preparation of an FNAB of the thyroid, were provided to all laboratories currently enrolled in the RCPAQAP Cytopathology diagnostic programmes. Each scanned image represented one slide from the first pass collected by a radiologist under ultrasound guidance. Participating laboratories were encouraged to distribute the exercise to individual staff members who attend ROSE procedures. A laboratory practice questionnaire was also conducted. RESULTS: There were a total of 186 submissions received for the assessment across the four virtual cases provided. Although the assessment of on-site adequacy by participants showed high concordance across some of the cases, there was variation in the initial diagnostic evaluation and technical recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: ROSE has been adopted as a standard procedure in many laboratories worldwide. A peer comparison of participating laboratories in an EQA exercise has highlighted ROSE as susceptible to variation across standard operating procedures, the provision of diagnostic adequacy, diagnostic feedback to the attending clinician, and technical recommendation.

Papanicolaou Staining and Processing Troubleshooting Exercise Using Digital Pathology: Peer Comparison in an External Quality Assurance Setting.

BACKGROUND: The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPAQAP) offers a comprehensive range of External Quality Assurance programs for all disciplines of pathology and is committed to delivering programs to advance outcomes in patient care and promote excellence in laboratory diagnostic and technical proficiency. Proficiency testing in cytopreparatory techniques became available for formal enrolment in 2018. The 2019 technical program focused on the demonstration of a laboratory to troubleshoot problems encountered during staining and processing. The exercise provided a peer comparison of a laboratory's ability to (1) identify the problem viewed from a digital image and (2) describe the troubleshooting steps to rectify the problem using assessment guidelines. METHODS: Ten troubleshooting exercises including whole-slide z-stacked virtual images, a reference slide, and an online Result Entry questionnaire were provided. Common staining and processing problems were demonstrated in these exercises. Multiple-choice responses were made available to participants for each case with 1 response requiring submission. Participants were then allowed free text to describe how they would rectify the problem. RESULTS: Of the 72 participants who participated, 62 participants (86%) achieved a satisfactory assessment, 6 participants (8%) received a borderline assessment, and 4 participants (6%) received an unsatisfactory assessment. The average mark obtained was 32.7 out of a total of 45 marks, which equates to a satisfactory assessment. The highest mark obtained for this survey was 42.5. CONCLUSIONS: Quality cytopathology preparatory techniques are integral to mitigating the risk of diagnostic error. The digital pathology platform allowed homogeneity of samples for all participants and appeared to be a satisfactory mode for demonstrating the technical problems to participants. Laboratories participating in this survey showed good performance in identifying processing and staining problems on virtual images and working through the troubleshooting steps. The exercise also identified a method for troubleshooting formalin vapour-affected slides using citrate buffer which may be useful for laboratories following in-house validation.

Performance measures for Australian laboratories reporting cervical cytology 2009-2017: the impact of the national HPV vaccination program.

The significant decrease in the incidence of cervical cancer in Australian women since the implementation of an organised approach to cervical screening through the National Cervical Screening Program (NSCP) can be largely attributed to high-quality cervical cytology reporting by Australian laboratories. Performance measures for Australian laboratories reporting cervical cytology are a well-established and an integral part of monitoring and maintaining this high standard by facilitating interlaboratory comparison of performance. This study summarises the aggregate data collected annually by Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPAQAP) over the decade from 2009 until 30 November 2017, when the NCSP was revised and the cervical screening test replaced the Pap test as the primary mode of screening women for preinvasive disease. Overall, laboratories continued to perform to a high standard over this period. However, the introduction of a national school and GP based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in 2006 had a significant impact on the reporting of possible and definite high-grade abnormalities. In the renewed cervical screening program which commenced in December 2017 and which is based on HPV testing and reflex liquid-based cytology, new performance benchmarks will need to be developed when sufficient data have been collected.

Constant Quest for Quality: Digital Cytopathology.

BACKGROUND: Special consideration should be given when creating and selecting cytopathology specimens for digitization to maximize quality. Advances in scanning and viewing technology can also improve whole-slide imaging (WSI) output quality. METHODS: Accumulated laboratory experience with digitization of glass cytopathology slides was collected. RESULTS: This paper describes characteristics of a cytopathology glass slide that can reduce quality on resulting WSI. Important points in the glass cytopathology slide selection process, preparation, scanning, and WSI-editing process that will maximize the quality of the resulting acquired digital image are covered. The paper outlines scanning solutions which have potential to predict issues with a glass cytopathology slide before image acquisition, allowing for adjustment of the scanning approach. WSI viewing solutions that better simulate the traditional microscope experience are also discussed. CONCLUSION: In addition to taking advantage of technical advances, practical steps can taken to maximize quality of cytopathology WSI.