Rapid Cancer Detection With The Duet™ Image Analysis System
A new, ultra-fast automated scanning microscope and image analysis system from Preston-based Image Solutions speeds up cancer detection.
Known as Duet, it rapidly analyses cell samples carrying both cellular markers and chromosomal markers. As well as being a powerful tool in the fight against numerous types of cancer, Duet is also being used in prenatal diagnosis, sperm analysis, Metaphase location (G-banding and DAPI) and Metaphase analysis (Sub-Telomere and micro deletions).
“As the Duet can combine information from two stains on the same cell, this enables the user to focus diagnostic effort on those cells that are the target of the assay. This leads to an enhanced sensitivity of that assay” said Ian Corless, MD of Image Solutions (UK) Ltd.
This new tool which has FDA approval (US Food and Drug Administration) helps the pathologist in the detection, classification and counting of specimen cells based on colour, intensity, size, pattern and shape. As such, it is useful in detecting hematopoietic cells positively stained by Giemza stain, Immuno-histochemistry, or (bright field and fluorescent) prepared from cell suspension. One of its key uses is in haematology where Duet offers an outstanding cell imaging technology platform for the analysis of cells stained by morphological, immunohistochemical and FISH markers.
Duet’s advanced technology rapidly links morphological analysis with Fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH) technology allowing the pathologist to analyse the same cell by both methods. This ability to carry out combined analysis has meant that several leading clinical and hospital laboratories have already increased the accuracy of their bladder cancer and leukemia diagnoses. Duet is also being used to examine the relationship between chromosomal aberrations and sperm morphology.
Duet has full flexibility in scan parameters, while being fast at archiving and retrieving cases. Image matching between different scans and target scanning to analyse a specific sub group of cells is also possible. It can process 10,000 cells per minute in both bright light microscopy and FISH analysis. True colours are seen and the setting time is only 1-2 minutes. Slides, currently in batches of eight, can be left unattended during operation.
Combined analysis of morphology and FISH on bone marrow sample. The right hand image shows one cell expressing the Dph chromosomes. On the left image the morphology of this blast cell (closed within the rectangle) is shown.
25/02/2005