• OVERVIEW
• APPLICATIONS >>
  • Digitization and Archiving
  • Image Analysis
  • Second Opinions
  • Reporting
  • Quality Control
  • Remote Sign-out
  • Remote Consultations
  • Tumor Boards
  • Remote Frozen Sections
  • Telepathology
  • Education
• COMPANION ALGORITHMS >>
• ENABLING PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
• EXTERNAL RESOURCES

Digitalization and Archiving

Digitizing slides is the process of converting entire glass microscope slides into high-resolution, whole-slide digital images that can be viewed and managed with a computer instead of a microscope. A digital slide is the springboard for a wide variety of digital pathology applications including image analysis, virtual second opinions, reporting, remote sign-out, remote consultation, quality control, tumor boards, pathology education, and remote frozen section review.

With digital slides, the user can create an archive that is catalogued and accessible by tissue type and diagnosis. Users have instantaneous access to previous cases for comparison. It is important for the pathologist to be able to evaluate the progression of disease, determine origin of cancers and assess the response of tumors to therapies.

A digital archive allows the pathologist to have a ready reference of cases for future diagnoses. The quality of the diagnosis is improved as the pathologist can bring up similar cases for comparison instantaneously. Valuable time is saved by being to electronically search for cases.

Retrieving a glass slide is a time intensive process. In many cases, glass slides are stored offsite, which requires a person to physically fetch the slide. Slides can be lost, misfiled or not returned. Not having immediate access to slides can increase the wait time to get a diagnosis or a second opinion. In contrast, a digital archive enables cases to be retrieved easily for comparisons, improving quality of diagnosis.