Whole Slide Imaging System: a Valuable Tool for Biorepositories
Charles R. Handorf, Cameila Johns, Jie Zhang, Anand L Kulkarni · The FASEB Journal · 2010
Tissue biorepositories classically exist to support biomedical research and development by collecting, classifying, preserving, and supplying biological material. The advent of whole slide imaging (WSI) systems provides a new way to approach the information inherent in tissues. Archiving of static digital images from microscopic slides is of limited value for research, whereas digitizing all of the information on a slide opens up new avenues for collaboration and quantification of the information contained in a slide. We have evaluated 20 tissue cases representing a variety of tissue types and pathological conditions; data collected include evaluation of diagnostic suitability by a panel of pathologists, scanning quality at 20X and 40X magnification, total processing time, scanning time, and file size. Operational characteristics for WSI systems must be optimized; however, these systems will be a valuable tool for biorepositories to create digital archives, to establish the quality of tissues requested by researchers, and to augment data sharing. NCRR 1S10RR025665‐01