The Use of Static Telecytological Applications for Proficiency Testing Purposes in the Field of Diagnostic Cytopathology

摘要

Over the last decade, the practice of clinical cytopathology was dramatically influenced by the wide implementation of informatics and computer sciences into the laboratory workflow. New types of cameras and microscopes connected to computers made possible image capture and transmission (telecytology). Remote cytological diagnosis can nowadays be achieved either with the use of cytological pictures viewed in real-time from the microscope (dynamic telecytological systems) or with the use of cytological pictures that are first captured in a digital format and then transmitted using a store-and-forward approach to distant observers (static telecytological systems). ISO 15189:2012 for medical laboratories requires successful participation in proficiency testing programs. This article emphasizes on the feasibility of using static telecytological applications in order to implement a proficiency test for cytopathology labs wishing to be accredited according to ISO 15189:2012.