[Robotized microscopy introduces the test quality standard for blood smears].

The authors consider recommendations on blood smear microscopic tests, possibilities of implementing these recommendations when manual microscopy and automatic microscopy complexes (AMC) are used. Whether one may switch over from the recommendations to the quality standard implemented in practice when AMCs are applied is discussed. Conditions for effectively using AMC models with different functions, performance, and cost are considered.

[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.

[Analysis of reticulocytes: manual microscopy, flow analyzers or image analyzers? (analytical review)].

Three procedures for determining the quantity and composition of reticulocytes (visual analysis during manual microscopy; flow cytometry, semi-automatic analysis using a computerized microscopy unit) are compared. The errors characteristics for each procedure and the reasons why manual analysis still remains most used are discussed. The paper points out that it is impossible to draw a conclusion on the accuracy of the procedures, by using the values of the correlation coefficient. Evidence is provided for the thesis that the statistical accuracy may be achieved only when the image analyzer of a computerized microscopy unit is employed, therefore this procedure is recommended for use as a reference one. The characteristics of a procedure for analyzing reticulocytes by means of a MEKOS-Ts2 computerized microscopy unit are presented.

[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.

[Automatic erythrocytometry in a robotized microscope MEKOS-Ts1]. / Avtomaticheskaia éritrotsitometriia v robotizirovannom mikroskope MEKOS-Ts1.

Measurements of the form and size of erythrocytes are needed in the diagnosis of a number of diseases. However, such measurements, if made manually, are a labor-consuming and often inaccurate method, which ensures the determination of a very limited number of parameters. Hardware/software unit MEKOS-C1 enables an automated examination of blood smear, thus speeding up significantly the analysis and ensuring a more complete and accurate information. The possibilities of unit MEKOS-C1 were evaluated for the diagnosis of ovalocytosis. Blood smears of 19 patients from the Russian Pediatric Clinical Hospital, including 8 patients with inherited ovalocytosis, 1 patient with spherocytic ovalocytosis and 10 patients without the disease, were made use of Erythrocytes were isolated in the images of preparations and the contour of each cell was approximated by ellipse. The ratio between ellipse semi-axes served as a measure of erythrocytes' ovality. The mean ratio of semi-axes (RS) and the index of ovalocytosis (IO), i.e. a ratio of the mean maximum diameter to the mean minimal diameter, were calculated for each smear. Manual IO measurements were made in all preparations as a control. Since an additional error can enter the result because of the irregular smear nature and impossibility to standardize completely the technology of smear preparation, the data, obtained from two different smear parts and from parallel preparations, were compared. The reliability, stability and good reproducibility of the automated measurement results were demonstrated. The mean erythrocytes' RS correlated well with IO, obtained manually, and did not virtually differ from RS, measured in the automated manner. The mean RS value of erythrocytes, obtained from patients with inherited ovalocytosis, significantly differed from the control values, which is indicative of a high information density of the discussed parameter. Therefore, RS, when measured automatically, is a reliable and convenient characteristic of erythrocytes' ovality under the conditions of using the ordinary technique of smear preparation.