. 2011 Oct 3;2:43f.
J Pathol Inform. 2011 Oct 3;2:43f.
Denise F.P. Costa, Leonilda Santos, Fabiana Peres
State University of West of Paraná, Engineering and Science, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. E-mail: denise.costa2@unioeste.br
CONTENT
To keeping the biodiversity of wildlife is required to check the presence of microorganisms on the surface of erythrocytes can cause anemia if the animal is with impaired immune systems. The wild animals in captivity, be influenced by stress and due to their behavior, many of the diseases can be diagnosed only by laboratory tests. The quantification of microorganisms is performed manually and this activity is an exhaustive, time consuming and more error-prone, depends on physician skill. In order to facilitate this activity, a procedure is being developed using techniques of Digital Image Processing to perform the quantification of microorganisms automatically.
TECHNOLOGY
Blood samples of wild animals are collected with anticoagulant and examined fresh; the capture of images is made using a microscope Olympus BX-41, objective 40 × and eyepiece 10 ×, an Olympus DP-12 digital camera coupled to the biological microscope and the camera software to transfer images to the computer via USB 2.0 for application of the techniques of Digital Image Processing.
DESIGN
After defining a protocol for capturing images of Digital Image Processing techniques are applied to classify the constituent objects. Through a representation and description to put in evidence the characteristics of the objects of interest will be held the counting of each class: total erythrocytes and microorganisms, being defined the percentage between the quantitative constituent objects.
RESULTS
The automated counting of cells by Digital Image Processing facilitates the work of professional in the field of hematology, to be effective, accurate and fast, reducing costs to the laboratory. Upon completion, the final product will be used to assess the interference of parasitic microorganisms in erythrocytes in relation to anemia, which interferes with the biodiversity of local fauna.
CONCLUSION
The discovery of hemotropics microorganisms in wild animals is recent, development manual techniques, and the development of innovative automated quantification of microorganisms parasites of erythrocytes. The monitoring of parasitic microorganisms is important in maintaining a healthy population of wild animals which, in turn, helps in reducing losses to the species, avoiding the imbalance of regional biodiversity.
J Pathol Inform. 2011 Oct 3;2:43f.
Troy Brown, James Dobbs
Orion Biosystems, Rolling Meadows, IL. E-mail: troy.brown@orionbiosystems.com
CONTENT
Misidentification errors in the anatomic pathology laboratory, while relatively infrequent, can have disastrous consequences. Such errors can cause patient inconvenience or harm when additional tissue collection is needed. Misidentification of cases, specimens, blocks and slides can delay diagnosis and treatment or cause treatment to be administered inappropriately. Technology solutions such as barcode labeling and tracking are being used but have not been fully developed. This paper describes misidentification errors and possible technology solutions.
TECHNOLOGY
We analyzed the use of relational databases and barcoding in pathology laboratories. We also studied the application of Lean and Six Sigma technologies in the pathology laboratory. We studied the current and potential effectiveness of electronic cross-checking and electronic tracking systems using Standard Query Language databases.
DESIGN
We conducted a review of current literature regarding misidentification of cases, specimens, blocks and slides in pathology laboratories. We focused on specific vulnerabilities associated with the anatomic pathology laboratory setting, and potential remedies for each. We reviewed the use of barcode technology in all types of laboratories, including anatomic pathology.
RESULTS
Barcode technology is well-established in a number of health care settings, including laboratories. Some anatomic pathology laboratories use barcode technology, but it is not fully integrated, often requiring the use of handwriting at the point of tissue collection and accessioning. Many anatomic pathology laboratories rely on an unintegrated, multi-tiered and nonsynchronous approach to maintaining quality and integrity throughout the tissue handling process. Paper requisition forms, which can be lost or placed with the wrong tissue, are still used.
CONCLUSIONS
Anatomic pathology laboratories are particularly vulnerable to misidentification errors because tissue undergoes several processes from the time of collection through transcription. Anatomic pathology laboratories would benefit from a barcode system that tracks tissue from the time of collection through transcription. Such a system would reduce human error and identify misplaced tissue. A paperless requisition system would also reduce misidentification errors by reducing the potential for misplaced requisition forms and errors related to handwritten information.
J Pathol Inform. 2011 Oct 3;2:43f.
J. Mark Tuthill, Michael Czechowski, Kathleen M. Roszka, Mehrvash Haghighi
Henry Ford Hospital, Division of Pathology Informatics, Detroit, MI. E-mail: mtuthil1@hfhs.org
CONTENT
Immunoperoxidase staining of tissues has become an important routine aspect of pathology practice resulting in the development of automation technology to perform these assays. As orders are typically created in the Anatomic Pathology LIS, it is a logical next step to interface such orders to the instrument platform eliminating dual order entry and errors, improving efficiency, and thereby increasing capacity.
TECHNOLOGY
Sunquest CoPathPlus (Sunquest Information Systems, Tuscon, AZ), Dako Automatic Immunohistochemistry Stainer with DakoLink interface server (Denmark)
DESIGN
A bidirectional HL 7 interface was implemented between Sunquest CoPathPlus version 4.1 (SQCP) and a Dako Automated Immunostain Platform allowing immunohistochemistry orders place in CoPath to be received in the DakoLink instrument control software markedly simplifying run setup. Slides are required to be labeled with vendor proprietary asset tags.
RESULTS
While slides still need to be manually labeled for runs, the elimination of dual order entry by automation of order entry markedly decreases assay run time saving upward of 360 hour of manual effort per year, eliminating errors, and improving laboratory throughput.
CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of an interface between the AP LIS and automated staining platforms save times and eliminates errors increasing laboratory capacity and throughput as well improving patient safety.
J Pathol Inform. 2011 Oct 3;2:43f.
Lyman T. Garniss, James Floyd, Ling-Ling
Massachusetts General Hospital, Department: Pathology Informatics, Boston, MA. E-mail: lgarniss@partners.org
CONTENT
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Pathology Service recently implemented Sunquest's CoPath Plus version 5.0 This was not the first implementation of Sunquest CoPath Plus v 5.0 but it was the first time that large numbers of unique cassettes and slides were converted from a foreign system into CoPath Plus (or any APLIS) and could be recognized and processed in the new APLIS. During the implementation a team of dedicated specialists from Sunquest, Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners Healthcare Systems Information Systems converted over 20 years of Anatomic Pathology data. This included over 2.4 million cases, 1.8 million unique tissue cassette numbers and 4.2 million unique slides numbers.
TECHNOLOGY
The technology to accomplish this project included; The existing PowerPath APLIS database with unique asset identifiers for specimen cassettes and slides; programs and formatting rules supplied by Sunquest, several programs, filters and conversion utilities developed at Partners Healthcare Systems Information Systems and the receiving CoPath Plus v 5.0 database.
DESIGN
Sunquest's CoPath Plus version 5.0 has the ability to accept, store and make available “foreign identifiers”. In the case of the MGH data conversion the PowerPath native identifiers for cassettes and slides were moved to the foreign identifier fields in the case records of CoPath.
RESULTS
A newly installed APLIS (CoPath Plus) was able to open, access and process new tests and orders on cassettes and slides from a foreign APLIS for the first time. The process was not easy and many lessons were learned while converting the assets and cases.
CONCLUSION
This was the first time that a new APLIS was used convert, store, access and order new tests on cassettes and slides from a foreign APLIS. The “converted” assets can be used to order new stains, new slides, order whole slide imaging, and order molecular tests years after the case has been finalized. Slides and cassettes can also be more easily tracked and retrieved.