Evaluation of an automated digital imaging system, Nextslide Digital Review Network, for examination of peripheral blood smears.
BACKGROUND
Several automated digital imaging systems have been introduced in recent years to improve turnaround time and proficiency in examining peripheral blood smears in hematology laboratories.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a new automated digital imaging system, Nextslide Digital Review Network (Nextslide), for examination of peripheral blood smears.


METHODS
We evaluated 479 peripheral blood smears, of which 247 (51.6%) were included for comparison of Nextslide and manual white blood cell differential counts and morphology evaluation, 204 (42.6%) were included for comparison of Nextslide and CellaVision (DM96) differential counts, and 28 (5.8%) were neonatal samples examined for enumeration of nucleated red blood cells.


RESULTS
Results from both method comparisons showed excellent correlation for all major white blood cell classes with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.99. Evaluation of white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet morphology also showed good correlation among methods. White blood cell preclassification capability in the system was evaluated for rate and accuracy. Leukopenic samples demonstrated markedly decreased review time with Nextslide. Enumeration of nucleated red blood cells showed good correlation among methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Our evaluation of Nextslide shows excellent correlation when compared with conventional manual differentials and CellaVision (DM96) differentials for evaluation of peripheral blood smears.
Department of Hospital Laboratories and Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, One Biotech Park, 365 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. hongbo.yu@umassmemorial.org
Hongbo
H
Yu
Chi Young
CY
Ok
Adam
A
Hesse
Peter
P
Nordell
Diane
D
Connor
Erica
E
Sjostedt
Liberto
L
Pechet
L Michael
LM
Snyder
D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006405:Hematology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*