The increased use of virtual images and digital slides in haematology microscopy has been well documented in the last ten years. A number of publications have noted significant advantages for using virtual microscopy for educational, training and proficiency testing purposes.
The morphology program offered by RCPAQAP consists of 4 surveys per year with three case studies per survey. Participants are required to submit a response on the diagnostic morphological features and the likely diagnosis based on the morphology for each of the case studies.
RCPAQAP has been providing digital scanned images since 2013 for the morphology program. However, due to several factors (including demand by consumer for glass slide cases and viewing platform) this technology was not fully incorporated to the morphology program. With the introduction of a better viewing platform and the dwindling supplies of glass slide cases RCPAQAP investigated the use of the digital images to the morphology program. In 2018, 4 case studies previously sent as a glass slide case studies were selected and a digital scan was sent as case studies. Case studies included were platelet satellitism, Infectious Mononucleosis, Bernard-Soulier syndrome and Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
The data from 2018 shows the returned results for the virtual images were comparable to those returned for the glass slides. For each of the four digital case studies, greater than 80% of participants successfully returned an acceptable response on both the morphological diagnostic features as well for diagnosis.
The success of the study enables RCPAQAP to fully integrate digital scanning into the morphology program. This technology enables RCPAQAP haematology to provide participants with rare case studies that would be otherwise difficult to obtain. Nevertheless, there are still some limitations especially with viewing and downloading the large image files.