MSKCC has been using digital pathology since 2006, with over 5.3 million slides in its archive. However, digitizing glass slides from external institutions is challenging due to inconsistent staining and preparation methods, requiring manual review and extra processing time. To address this, MSKCC evaluated Pramana’s two-head scanning system to assess its efficiency in handling challenging slides.
In a study of 1,705 slides, the scanner processed slides with double mounting, multiple labels, and ink annotations without additional preparation. Its built-in quality control (QC) system automatically detected errors such as focus issues, stitching defects, and air bubbles, which were then manually reviewed.
Key Findings:
- 87% of slides were routine histology, with 64% H&E-stained.
- 1.5% of slides were rejected due to poor scan quality or missing tissue.
- 9.3% had focus errors, and 2.3% had significant out-of-focus areas.
- The automated QC system matched manual review 100%, confirming its accuracy.
Conclusion
The Pramana scanner successfully digitized complex slides, reducing manual work while ensuring high-quality scans. This automated QC system offers a promising solution for improving efficiency in high-volume digital pathology workflows.
