Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems that acquire digital images of a microscope slide having a large variation in pixel value brightness, like, for instance, fluorescent microscope slides. The methods and the systems generate a well contrasted composite image with preserved areas of low and high fluorescent intensity from the input images.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for automatic detection of the location of cell colonies on a specimen slide, in particular under the coverslip of a specimen slide. Slide scanning can be performed using an automated microscope with motorized axes. The location of the colonies can be determined by image analysis, which is followed by automatically finding metaphase cells and associating them with each colony. The invention also provides an automated, Hough-transform-based method for identifying the location of the slide coverslip and, if desired, analyzing only the image area contained within the coverslip.

Abstract: Computerized techniques are provided for linking digitized images of serial sections of a biological tissue sample. Linked, digitized images of the serial section are displayed on a display and manipulation of one digitized image causes other digitized images to be similarly manipulated. To link digitized images, a copy of a digitized image of one serial section is positioned over a digitized image of another serial section. The digitized image of the other serial section is visible through the copy. The copy is registered to the digitized image of the other serial section.

Abstract: A sample configured to be cut to form a set of serial sections. The sample includes a sample block; at least one tissue sample substantially embedded in the sample block; and a least one control-marker core substantially embedded in the sample block and having a select shape as viewed from an end of the control-marker core, wherein each serial section includes a cross section of the tissue sample and a cross section of the control-marker core, each cross section of the tissue sample is referred to as the tissue section and each cross section of the control-marker core is referred to as the control marker, and wherein each control marker has the select shape.

Abstract: Computerized techniques are provided for linking digitized images of serial sections of a biological tissue sample. Linked, digitized images of the serial section are displayed on a display and manipulation of one digitized image causes other digitized images to be similarly manipulated. To link digitized images, a copy of a digitized image of one serial section is positioned over a digitized image of another serial section. The digitized image of the other serial section is visible through the copy. The copy is registered to the digitized image of the other serial section.

Abstract: Detection of fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) is achieved by employing a combination of brightfield and fluorescence images of nuclear and cytoplasmic markers. The brightfield and fluorescence images are all obtained with a single multibandpass dichroic mirror. The objects in the sample are stained with a fluorescent dye that selectively stains nuclei and a dye that selectively stains fetal hemoglobin in the cytoplasm of fetal RBCs. UV excitation provides fluorescent emissions from the stained cell nuclei and visible illumination provides brightfield transmission of light that is absorbed by the stained cytoplasm. The images are processed to determine regions where the fluorescent emissions by cell nuclei in response to the UV excitation and the absorption by fetal hemoglobin of the brightfield illumination overlap or are in close proximity.