title: Color standardization in whole slide imaging using a color calibration slide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Color consistency in histology images is still an issue in digital pathology. Different imaging systems reproduced the colors of a histological slide differently.
  
  
  METHODS
  Color correction was implemented using the color information of the nine color patches of a color calibration slide. The inherent spectral colors of these patches along with their scanned colors were used to derive a color correction matrix whose coefficients were used to convert the pixels' colors to their target colors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in the CIELAB color difference, between images of the same H & E histological slide produced by two different whole slide scanners by 3.42 units, P < 0.001 at 95% confidence level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Color variations in histological images brought about by whole slide scanning can be effectively normalized with the use of the color calibration slide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Pinky A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bautista
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagi
keywords: Color calibration; color correction; color normalization; color standardization; whole slide image; whole slide scanning