Efficiency and effectiveness of the reporting pathologist in part depends on the performance and usability of the application used for viewing the slides. There are many design features which should be considered when purchasing an image review system for diagnostic use. These are discussed below.
In 2016, the RCPAQAP changed the platform for viewing online WSI to Collibio web image viewer. This change was primarily to support viewing and management of slides from different slide scanners, which each have their own proprietary image formats.
To assist with the transition, participants were provided with access to a number of test images. Participants have been encouraged to test drive the application thoroughly and report any issues to the RCPAQAP. To operate Collibio, it is recommended that a normal wheel mouse is used, a minimum of 2Mbps internet connection, and one of the following web browsers used:
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Google Chrome
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Internet Explorer
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Mozilla Firefox
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Refer to User’s Guide for Collibio by Pixcelldata and Quick Guide to Collibio outlines the functions and navigation tools of Collibio.
The sample digital slide image with the new Collibio viewer can be accessed on the RCPAQAP website: http://www.rcpaqap.com.au/rcpaqap-collibio
These guides should help further explain some of the design features listed below:
- routine diagnostic workflow and fast response time to retrieve images and metadata from storage
- user-friendly functionality for the diagnostic viewing and reporting of a case:
- annotation tools such as the ability to circle, highlight and add free text comments,
- image manipulation functions such as colour alterations (adjust colour, white balance) and image sharpening functions (if z- stacking is available),
- calibrated ruler,
- calibrated standard area such as circular 1 square mm to drag out to enable counting of mitoses,
- ability to compare multiple slides for a case,
- facility for simultaneous viewing of a slide by multiple pathologists, and
- facility for live sharing of annotations on a slide between remotely located users.
Figure: The visualisation of virtual slides by the user is performed using the virtual microscope. Virtual slide is viewed here with Collibio web-based viewer in X and Y axes. Several functions like measuring and annotations are offered. Basic annotation functions (pointers) demonstrated in this screenshot.
Source: Courtesy RCPAQAP, 2017
- software interaction:
- data entry (spell check, ways to prevent data entry errors),
- steps required to perform a diagnosis,
- dictation facility via speech recognition, and
- report integration with LIS including ability to capture data for structured reporting templates.
- screen display:
- screen layout,
- field of view of displayed slide,
- icon and font size configurable by the use, to suit individual user preferences, and
- use of thumbnails, menu options, and keyboard shortcuts.
- software functions (ease of use and speed):
- moving between cases,
- selecting fields of interest equivalent to dot,
- easy selection of magnification level for panning and zooming of an image,
- display for any randomly accessed field of view within the digital slide image, at any level of magnification, and associated information for a case should be within:
- 0-2 seconds (local area network)
- 0-5 seconds (WAN, internet, VPN).
- navigation controls (ease of use and speed):
- provision of different types of navigation such as keyboard (including shortcuts, arrows, etc.), mouse, joystick, touch screens, etc, and
- ergonomics consider repetitive use of the navigation tool and fatigue.
Refer watch this Video demonstration of the Aperio ImageScope software.
For MAC computers, please note that Aperio® ImageScopeTM is a Windows-based application that requires Parallels™ Desktop or VMware Fusion. 4 ObjectiveViewTM image viewer runs natively on a Mac computer. No virtual Windows is required. It can be downloaded on:
http://www.objectivepathology.com/#!objectiveview/c3zr