Whole-Slide Imaging System Enables Pathologists to Diagnose Patients Using Digital Images

Digital pathology involves the digitalization of the traditional pathology workflow, starting from slide scanning to visualization, to analysis. Digital pathology is transforming traditional histopathology by improving efficiency, depth of analysis, and collaborative opportunities in pathology workflows. For instance, once tissue samples on glass slides are captured and transformed into digital images by a slide scanner, these images can be efficiently managed, shared, and analyzed by pathologists to aid in determining treatment plans for cancer patients. Digital pathology facilitates primary diagnosis, improving healthcare efficiency and ensuring timely and effective patient care, particularly in regions with limited access to pathologists. Now, a new digital pathology solution has been designed to aid in clinical diagnosis, allowing pathologists to diagnose patients using digital images.

Roche (Basel, Switzerland) has obtained 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its whole-slide imaging system, the Roche Digital Pathology Dx (VENTANA DP 200). This system supports pathologists by enabling the review and interpretation of digital images of scanned pathology slides, which are crucial for patient diagnosis. The VENTANA DP 200 slide scanner is an advanced computer and imaging-based device capable of scanning, digitizing, compressing, storing, retrieving, and viewing digitized slide specimens. Designed for multiple applications, this six-slide high-speed brightfield scanner delivers outstanding image quality, enhancing the pathologists' ability to review digital slides. This fast, high-resolution slide scanner is user-friendly, featuring a no-touch start process, and an intuitive user interface, and is ideal for remote site scanning, first-time digital pathology users, frozen section scanning, and more.

Image: High-speed brightfield scanners offer excellent image quality to aid pathologists\' review of digital slides (Photo courtesy of Roche)

Combined with the VENTANA Image Viewer, the VENTANA DP 200 slide scanner enables automated digital slide creation, management, and viewing, assisting pathologists in the in-vitro examination of human tissue specimens. The Roche Digital Pathology Dx setup, which combines the VENTANA DP 200 slide scanner with Roche’s digital pathology workflow software and a monitor, is now available in the United States to support clinical diagnoses, thus enabling pathologists to make diagnostic decisions based on digital images. The ability to diagnose via scanned images not only extends the reach to pathologists, particularly for those in remote areas, but it also promotes collaborative opportunities among pathologists on patient cases.

"Primary diagnosis for digital pathology streamlines the digital workflow that empowers pathologists to make a timely diagnosis from anywhere," said Jill German, Head of Pathology Lab for Roche Diagnostics. "This not only improves a pathology lab's efficiency but also expands access to pathologists for people living in remote areas and increases opportunities for pathologists to collaborate on patient cases."