About Virtual Microscopy:

The Virtual Microscopy Core under the division of the Human Tissue Resource Network (HTRN) of the OSU Department of Pathology uses digital imaging for quality assurance of tissue specimens submitted for clinical translational research of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B and for basic research for the Department of Biomedical Informatics.

CALGB Pathologists render a quality assurance decision and annotate images for tissue microarray core locations. The annotated images are saved on the HTRN Virtual Microscopy Image Server where they can be accessed remotely by a technologist for TMA construction.

The Department of Pathology also uses this service for clinical training in pathology and tumor board review of clinical cases in gynecology with plans to expand its use for other disease groups. The HTRN ScanScope® XT uses the Aperio scanning software for image acquisition at 5x, 20x, and 40x resolutions. Scan time is approximately six minutes per slide scanned at 20x resolution (twenty minutes per slide at 40x resolution) depending on tissue size. 2x3 (whole mount) slides can be scanned at 20x resolution. Scan time for a 2x3 slides is approximately fifteen minutes. the Aperio ScanScope can scan in batches up to 120 slides.

Images are saved to HTRN Virtual Microscopy Image Server with over 1.5 terabytes of expandable storage. This server provides an accessible link to CALGB pathologists through the Internet. Pathologists are able to view and annotate images from their remote location using standard computer equipment and the ImageScope® viewer software; annotation overlays are stored on the OSU virtual microscopy server. Images are also mirrored to a second server as a local backup. Additionally, the images are saved to the Ohio Super Computing servers as an off-location backup using secure FTP, which provides 50 terabytes of storage space. The image files can be provided in a number of media services and can be viewed from any computer using Aperio's ImageScope® viewing and annotation software. The HTRN was the first group in central Ohio to purchase the Aperio ScanScope® system, of which now three systems are operating, including the Nationwide Children's Hospital Biopathology Center and OSU Veterinary Pathology. These three groups have agreed to begin meeting to form a user group and expand on opportunities to work together.