Category: Blogs

Choosing a microscope starts with the work you need it to do. A teaching lab viewing prepared slides has different needs than a research lab examining cells in culture or an industrial team inspecting a large component. The specimen, required detail, viewing method, and imaging needs should guide the decision before you compare individual models. This practical guide explains how to choose a microscope for laboratory, research, education, veterinary, and industrial applications. ACCU-SCOPE manufactures professional microscopy and digital imaging systems for these settings, so the goal is to help you narrow the type and features that fit your work.

Start With Your Application and Specimen

Begin with the specimen. Ask what you will observe most often, how the specimen will be prepared, and what you need to see or measure. A thin section on a glass slide may point toward a compound microscope, while a larger solid object may be better suited to stereo microscopes. Cells growing in a flask or culture vessel can make an inverted design more practical because the objectives view the specimen from below.

You should also consider how often you will change magnification, move across a specimen, manipulate an object under the optics, or capture images. A microscope used for routine classroom observation may need straightforward controls and durable construction. A clinical or research system may call for more objective choices, contrast methods, camera compatibility, or fluorescence capability. Listing these needs first gives you a useful filter for every feature that follows.

Understand the Main Types of Microscopes

A microscope type overview helps narrow the field before you compare specifications. The most useful distinction isn’t which design sounds more advanced. It’s which design matches the specimen and the observation task.

Compound Microscopes

A compound microscope (also referred to as an upright microscope) is commonly used when you need higher-magnification views of small specimens, especially material prepared on slides. Clinical laboratories, veterinary practices, research facilities, and teaching labs often use a compound microscope for cells, tissue sections, microorganisms, blood samples, and other slide-based work.

Most compound microscope systems use multiple objectives so the user can move between broader views and finer detail. The ideal objective selection depends on the specimen and the work being performed. When comparing a compound microscope, consider the useful resolution, contrast, and optical quality rather than the largest magnification number printed in a specification sheet. A compound microscope should support the detail you need to observe.

Upright vs. Inverted Microscopes

Upright and inverted microscopes differ mainly in how the objectives are positioned relative to the specimen. An upright compound microscope places the objectives above the stage and is well suited to prepared slides and many routine laboratory samples. This familiar configuration is common in clinical, veterinary, research, and education settings.

An inverted microscope places the objectives below the specimen. This arrangement is best suited for viewing cells and samples in culture vessels because the specimen is generally located at the bottom of the culture vessel, and it can remain in the container during observation. In research environments, the choice between an upright compound microscope and an inverted system often comes down to specimen format and workflow rather than magnification alone.

Stereo Microscopes

Stereo microscopes are designed for larger specimens, surfaces, and objects that benefit from a three-dimensional view. They are commonly used for dissection, inspection, assembly, education, specimen handling, and other tasks where the user needs room to work beneath the optics.

Working distance is especially important when comparing stereo microscopes. More space between the objective and specimen can make it easier to manipulate tools or position larger objects. Stereo microscopes may use fixed magnification or zoom systems, so consider how often the operator needs to change the viewing level during a task. For many inspection and dissection applications, smooth zoom control can be more useful than a single fixed setting.

Monocular, Binocular, and Trinocular Microscopes

Viewing-head configuration affects both viewing and future imaging options. A monocular microscope uses one eyepiece and may be practical for introductory education or simpler routine work. Binocular microscopes provide two eyepieces for direct observation and are common in laboratories where users spend more time at the instrument.

Trinocular configurations add a third optical path that can support a compatible camera. If image capture, teaching, remote viewing, or documentation may become part of the workflow later, choosing a camera-ready system at the start can make future expansion easier. ACCU-SCOPE recommends considering camera needs when the microscope is selected, even if the camera will be added later.

Digital Imaging and Camera Options

Digital microscopes and camera-equipped optical systems can display, capture, and share images on a screen. In practice, many laboratories add digital imaging to a traditional optical microscope through a compatible camera and software. This can support documentation, teaching, image review, collaboration, and analysis.

When comparing digital microscopes or camera options, think about the complete imaging path. Camera resolution, adapter compatibility, output type, software, and the intended use of the images all matter. Digital microscopes can be useful when screen-based viewing is central to the task, while a compound microscope or one of several stereo microscopes with a camera may be a better fit when direct observation remains important.

Key Features to Compare Before Buying a Microscope

Once you know the microscope type, compare the features that affect image quality and daily use. A long specification list is only helpful when you can connect each item to the application.

Magnification, Resolution, and Optical Quality

Magnification tells you how much larger an image appears, but it doesn’t determine image quality by itself. Resolution describes the ability to distinguish fine detail, and contrast helps separate structures within the specimen. A useful optical microscope balances these factors for the intended sample.

Objective selection plays a major role in a compound microscope. Lower-power objectives help users locate material and view a wider area, while higher-power objectives reveal smaller details within a narrower field. Numerical aperture can also matter in advanced applications because it relates to resolving power and light collection. Plan, fluorite, or apochromatic correction may be relevant when an application calls for a flatter field or more demanding color correction, but the most suitable level depends on the work.

Illumination and Contrast Methods

Illumination should match the specimen and the observation method. LED illumination is common in modern laboratory and education microscopes because it provides a practical light source with long service life and low heat output. Some systems may also use other light sources depending on the application.

Brightfield works well for many prepared and stained specimens. Phase contrast can improve visibility in certain transparent, unstained samples. Darkfield creates a different contrast effect for selected specimens, while fluorescence is used when labeled structures or specific signals need to be observed. Condenser and diaphragm controls also influence how light reaches the sample. But don’t assume every compound microscope or stereo microscope supports every contrast method. Check the configuration required for the technique you plan to use.

Stage, Focus, and Working Distance

A mechanical stage can make slide movement more controlled, especially when users need to scan across a specimen in a repeatable pattern. Coarse focus brings the sample into view, while fine focus supports smaller adjustments at higher magnification. Stable stage movement and smooth focus controls become increasingly important as detail increases.

For stereo microscopes, working distance deserves equal attention. A larger working area can help when users need to dissect, assemble, position tools, or inspect bulky objects. The right choice depends on the physical size of the specimen and how much access the operator needs beneath the microscope.

Head Type and Ergonomics

Microscope fit can affect daily usability. Check interpupillary adjustment, diopter settings, viewing angle, control placement, and the height of the eyepieces. Laboratories with several operators should consider how quickly the system can be adjusted between users. Ergonomic viewing heads may also be useful for people who spend extended periods at the microscope by adjusting eyetube inclination for optimal comfort.

Digital Imaging and Software Compatibility

If digital imaging is part of the workflow, look beyond megapixel count. Confirm that the microscope, camera, adapter, output, and software can work together for the intended task. Some users need basic documentation. Others need measurements, image comparison, teaching displays, or more advanced data analysis. Digital microscopes and camera systems should be evaluated against those actual requirements rather than a single camera specification.

Choosing a Microscope by Application

Clinical and Life Science Research

Clinical laboratories often use an upright compound microscope for prepared slides in areas such as pathology, hematology, microbiology, cytology, and histology. Research laboratories may use upright systems for slide-based samples and inverted microscopes for cells in culture. Phase contrast or fluorescence may be appropriate when the specimen and protocol call for those methods. High numerical aperture objectives can also be useful when fine detail and light collection are important, but objective choice should still follow the application.

Education and Student Labs

Student microscopes should be straightforward to operate and durable enough for repeated classroom use. Glass optics, stable construction, LED illumination, and a mechanical stage can support routine teaching. Monocular models may fit introductory settings, while binocular or trinocular systems can support more advanced courses and camera use. A compound microscope is common for prepared slides, while stereo microscopes are useful for dissection, exploration, and larger specimens.

Industrial Inspection and Quality Control

Stereo microscopes are often a strong choice for inspecting larger parts, surfaces, assemblies, and components because they provide depth perception and useful working space. Reflected illumination is important for opaque specimens that can’t be viewed with transmitted light. Materials science applications may also use reflected-light microscopes designed to examine opaque surfaces. When documentation is required, a camera can add image capture and sharing to the inspection workflow.

Veterinary and Gemological Applications

Veterinary laboratories may use a compound microscope for prepared slides, blood, and fecal samples examined for parasites. Stereo microscopes can also support larger specimens and tasks that benefit from depth perception. Gemological work commonly relies on stereo microscopes because three-dimensional viewing, surface examination, working distance, and controllable lighting can help users inspect stones and features at practical magnifications.

Budget, Maintenance, and Long-Term Support

The base microscope price is only one part of the purchasing decision. Budget for the configuration you actually need, including objectives, stands, illumination, cameras, adapters, software, and other accessories. It also helps to consider replacement parts, routine maintenance, warranty coverage, and access to product support.

Think about future needs before locking in the configuration. A teaching lab may add digital imaging later. A research group may need additional objectives or fluorescence capability. A veterinary practice may decide to add a camera for documentation or consultation. Planning for expansion can be more practical than choosing a system that meets only today’s minimum requirements.

Why Choose ACCU-SCOPE?

ACCU-SCOPE provides microscopy and digital imaging solutions for clinical, veterinary, research, education, and industrial applications. Its product range includes upright, inverted, monocular, and stereo microscopes, along with digital cameras, imaging software, and fluorescence illumination options. The company positions its systems around optical performance, useful features, strong value, and application support.

Because the right microscope depends on the specimen and workflow, ACCU-SCOPE can help users identify a configuration that fits the task rather than choosing solely by magnification or price. That approach is especially useful when imaging, contrast techniques, or future expansion need to be considered at the time of purchase.

Microscope Buying Checklist

• Specimen type and preparation method
• Required detail, resolution, and useful magnification
• Compound microscope, inverted microscope, or stereo microscope
• Monocular, binocular, or trinocular viewing configuration
• Illumination and contrast methods
• Stage movement, focus controls, and working distance
• Digital imaging, camera, and software needs
• Ergonomics and number of users
• Objectives, accessories, and future expansion
• Budget, maintenance, warranty, and support expectations

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Microscope

What Should I Look for When Buying a Microscope?

Start with the specimen and the work you need to perform. Then compare microscope type, optical quality, useful magnification, illumination, stage or working distance, head configuration, ergonomics, and digital imaging needs. Support, accessories, maintenance, and future expansion also belong in the decision.

What Is a Good Microscope for a Beginner?

A good beginner microscope is easy to operate and suited to the specimens being viewed. For prepared slides, a basic compound microscope with quality optics, stable focus controls, and practical illumination may be appropriate. For larger objects, dissection, or three-dimensional observation, stereo microscopes may be a better starting point. The application matters more than choosing the model with the highest listed magnification.

Should I Choose a Compound or Stereo Microscope?

Choose a compound microscope when you need higher-magnification views of small or slide-mounted specimens. Choose stereo microscopes when you need a three-dimensional view of larger objects, more working distance, or room to manipulate the specimen. Some laboratories need both because the two designs serve different tasks.

Do I Need a Binocular or Trinocular Microscope?

A binocular microscope supports direct viewing through two eyepieces. A trinocular microscope adds a third optical path that can support a compatible camera. If documentation, teaching, consultation, or digital image capture is part of the current or future workflow, a trinocular configuration may be the more flexible choice.

How Important Is Magnification When Choosing a Microscope?

Magnification matters, but it shouldn’t be the only selection criterion. Useful detail depends on resolution, objective quality, contrast, illumination, and the specimen itself. A microscope that provides the right image at the required working level is more useful than one chosen mainly for an unusually high magnification claim.

Find the Right Microscope for Your Application

Which microscope is right for you? Start with the specimen, define the observation and imaging needs, and compare the types and features that support the work. Review ACCU-SCOPE systems or contact the team for application support.

In this interview, we explore rapid on-site evaluation and the need for process enhancement.

MC:  I’m Mark Clymer, Vice President of Product at ACCU-SCOPE, and we’re here to learn about ROSE and ASP Health‘s vision to improve ROSE outcomes. Joining us today is Dr. Hari Subramanian, Executive Vice President and the Chief Commercial Officer at ASP Health. Welcome Hari.

HS:  Thank you, Mark. It’s definitely a great pleasure to talk about rapid on-site evaluation – ROSE for short – as well as what ASP Health is doing in the larger context of the overall rapid on-site evaluation market.

MC:  Hari, can you give us a picture of the landscape. What is ROSE and what are the current challenges facing healthcare facilities?

HS:  That’s a great question. Rapid On-Site Evaluation is not a new concept within cytology. We were surprised to learn that the initial papers on rapid on-site evaluation date back as early as 1990’s and early 2000’s when people were applying this concept of rapid on-site evaluation.

First, let’s talk about what ROSE is, and why did rapid on-site evaluation even come about? Let’s say, for example, a patient goes in with a tumor in their thyroid or in their lung. They go to the physician, but they don’t know what kind of a tumor it is. It could be a benign tumor, some kind of infection, or it could be a cancer. The physician needs to look at the cells in these tumors in order to make a diagnosis. If it’s a thyroid, an endocrinologist or an interventional radiologist would look at the thyroid tumor, and take a sample from there. If it is lung, an interventional pulmonologist would take a sample from down in the lung. The tumor samples are collected and sent to the lab. It’s as easy as that, right? It turns out that 30 to 40% of the samples sent to the lab for diagnosis, unfortunately, contain no material or very limited material to make a diagnosis. From the patients’ perspective, they have done everything they’ve been told to do, and now they wait for the results. But for about 40% of them, they get a call saying, “You have to come back in to give more sample.” Now the patient must go through the same process again. Think about the psychological issues — the patients are already tense, they are freaking out, and they get the call from the doctor that, okay, you know what? You need to come back. Also think about it from the hospital’s perspective. These procedures are getting repeated, taking the physician’s time, the hospital’s time and the patient’s time, etc.

This is the reason why the cytology and pathology community came together with the interventionists, and developed this particular concept of rapid on-site evaluation. As the name suggests, very quickly they can look at the samples coming from these tumors to evaluate whether there is enough material in the sample for diagnosis. If there is enough material, the patient goes to recovery, and if there isn’t enough material, the doctor can collect another sample right then and there, while the patient is in the procedure room, confirms the presence of material using ROSE, and then sends the samples to the lab.

It started as an adequacy assessment, and that’s why you hear it called rapid on-site evaluation or adequacy assessment. For those patients who go through FNAs without rapid on-site evaluation, unfortunately, they’re the ones who must come back again.  It’s a nightmare for them. You can imagine why that would be the case.

Now the question is, “Why is ASP Health trying to do what we are trying to do?” What are the challenges with rapid on-site evaluation? As with many issues in healthcare that we are currently facing, there is a huge shortage of personnel, period. You constantly hear about the shortages of nurses, waiting times in emergency rooms, etc. The same thing is happening within cytology and pathology as well. There is a huge shortage of cytotechnologists, the people trained to perform rapid on-site evaluation. Of course, there is also a shortage of pathologists or cytopathologists, the physicians who make the decisions. In fact, many schools that used to offer cytotechnology degrees closed during the pandemic and have not reopened their programs. Currently in the US, there are only a few institutions who even offer cytotechnology degrees and training.

What happens now? One of the two things happen.  First, the number of people trained to perform rapid on-site evaluations has come down dramatically, and it continues to decrease. Second, and the flip side of the first, the number of patients needing these types of FNA procedures, and therefore rapid on-site evaluation, is constantly increasing. Consider that in a large clinical site that has enough cytotechnology professionals to perform rapid on-site evaluation, not every cytotechnologist performs at the same level.  Cytotech #1 may perform amazing rapid on-site evaluation, while Cytotech #2 might be new and may not perform rapid on-site evaluation in a similar manner. This tension is always present. There is a lack of standards, it’s highly time-consuming, and it’s a completely manual process.

Cytotechnologists are trained to read the cytology slides from pap smears or other body fluids, and this is the majority of their task in the lab. However, now they are being forced to spend much of their time in the procedure rooms and stand shoulder to shoulder with the physicians as part of this rapid on-site evaluation. With staff shortages, all these things create a huge nightmare situation for the rapid on-site evaluation itself.

Adding fuel to the fire, there is limited reimbursement for rapid on-site evaluation. The cytotechnologist goes into the procedure room and performs rapid on-site evaluation. You would think they’ll be reimbursed, that there is a very good CPT code. Unfortunately, there is no reimbursement, UNLESS you have a cytopathologist directly involved with the rapid on-site evaluation.

To summarize, you have non-standardized techniques, high variability due to the manual nature of the process, it’s highly time-consuming, limited reimbursement, and a huge staff shortage. Sure, some big sites like Mayo or Cleveland have the staff to perform rapid on-site evaluation within their FNA clinics, but small regional or community hospitals do not have these resources. Disruptive technology is needed, one that democratizes the entire rapid on-site evaluation process. That’s a long-winded answer to a simple question, but I wanted to cover the bases in this big ballpark.

MC:  Thank you for that background. There seems to be a systematic failure despite having the technology and the training.  A failure in providing the level of care or diagnostics that we should be capable of.

ASP Health developed some products and some techniques in sample preparation. How did ASP Health choose the mission to improve ROSE results? Was this your goal from the start?  Can you explain to us how ASP Health chose to get into the ROSE performance business?

HS:  I’d really like to say that we did an amazing job with market research, created a market flow map, etc., but that wouldn’t be true.  In this case, we had an “aha” moment. My colleague and I visited a clinical site to get the voice of the customer. At that time, ASP Health was trying to find a market need for our initial product. We watched them perform rapid on-site evaluation, and we said to ourselves, “we need to improve this process.”

So what did we see?  We saw an endocrinologist collect samples from the patient. A cytotechnology supervisor was also in there – these are senior cytotechnologists with more than 20 years of training.   Then they start using these manual methods. They take the sample from the patient, put a couple drops onto a glass slide, and manually smear it.  They then use a hair dryer to dry the slide, then do this dip and dunk process to stain the slide.  As the cytotechnologist is doing this, the next sample arrives from the physician. The cytotechnologist has to literally drop the slide into the stainer, fetch the new slide from the physician, and repeat the entire process. During this time, the cytotechnologist must take care of the first slide, and look at it under the microscope, all while being barked at by the endocrinologist. “What is the result?  Give me the result right now. Is there enough material or not? I want to get done with this patient.” This was a huge discovery, and this is how ROSE is still being done in many places.  Realize that the patient never sees any of this process either – they’re under anesthesia.  That was the aha moment for us – this needs to change. Our thought was that a completely automated solution could change the workflow for the cytotechnologist, and improve the interaction between the endocrinologist and the cytotechnologist, among other things.

MC:  Besides the manual procedure, the dynamics of the interaction was an eye-opening experience.  What steps has ASP Health taken to make the ROSE procedure more efficient? From your explanation, there are multiple steps involved, right?

HS:  As a first step, ASP Health partnered with a product development firm to develop the first instrument called ROSE Prep™.  ROSE Prep automatically prepares specimen slides for rapid on-site evaluation. We collaborated with many cytotechnologists and cytopathologists at top clinics to develop and test this early ROSE Prep product before commercializing it. The goal was to fully automate the process, eliminating the manual preparation.  No more dip and dunk. Just get the sample from the patient, load it into the machine, and with the click of a button, the slides are automatically made within 70 seconds. ROSE Prep relieves the pressure of preparing the slides, and the cytotechnologist can instead focus on reading the slides. ROSE Prep was the first product we launched, and we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback on it.

But ROSE is more than just preparing the specimen slides. It involves slide preparation, reading the slides, and providing actionable feedback to the physician – the endocrinologist, interventional radiologist or interventional pulmonologist. What is actionable feedback? If the first sample taken by the physician only contains blood and no material, the physician can reposition and poke another area to collect a sample. ROSE is repeated. Now the sample has material in there. The physician is told that there is material, and they collect two more samples from the same area. Then the procedure is done. This is how the feedback loop actually works.

We learned that, although customers love ROSE Prep with its automated sample preparation, cytopathologists still must go down to the procedure room.  Specifically in small regional centers, cytopathologists don’t have time to go down, wait for the specimens, etc. They are looking for a solution to avoid the travel to the procedure room, so a fully automated microscope is a reasonable solution and allows them to look at the slides remotely.

After looking at existing and custom technologies, we found that ACCU-SCOPE’s RC500 system was a good fit for our customer expectations. The RC500 enables a full remote control of the microscope. The cytopathologist doesn’t have to be physically present in front of the microscope to view the samples. The cytotechnologist prepares the slides using ROSE Prep and loads them onto the RC500. The cytopathologist can remotely log into the system from their office and control the microscope as if they were sitting right there. So now we can combine both ROSE Prep with ROSE View™, our remote viewing system that includes this RC500 microscope.  This combination solution saves tremendous time and, possibly more importantly, staff cost. Even though the pathologist reviews the ROSE slides remotely, they still get reimbursement for these ROSE procedures.

This is how ASP Health is trying to achieve an efficient, rapid on-site evaluation process, compared to the status quo of a manual process.

MC:  It sounds like a winning combination.  ROSE Prep for slide preparation and ROSE View for remote control and viewing of the specimens to determine sample adequacy before the sample goes to the laboratory for traditional preparation and staining.

At the recent American Society of Cytopathology conference, you had a chance to show and demonstrate ROSE Prep and ROSE View. How do you get the word out about these solutions, that there is an alternative to traditional manual process?

HS:  We are doing two things, one from the product perspective and the other from the marketing perspective. From the product perspective, we are offering the opportunity to purchase both the ROSE Prep instrument together with the ROSE View system. For the moment, our customers must use a mouse and keyboard to examine these slides remotely. ASP Health is using its massive repository of specimen slides prepared using our own ROSE Prep instrument, together with machine learning, to very quickly identify areas where the cells are present on these slides. We call this ROSE Assist™. The purpose of this machine learning software is not to make decisions for the physicians, but to point them to the location of cells so that they can use the remote microscope to view those areas and make an adequacy assessment from there.

We showcased these three different products at the ASC conference:  ROSE Prep, ROSE View and ROSE Assist. Many cytopathologists and cytotechnologists were thrilled to see them for a variety of reasons. Many people see this as a game changer.  For the first time, they could see a complete end-to-end ROSE solution that will help them perform ROSE (including automatic sample preparation, remote viewing, and quick cell location detection) without the headaches of the past. For this advancement, ASP Health was awarded “most innovative cytology practice” by the American Society of Cytopathology at the recent meeting in Orlando.

Now, from the marketing perspective, we recently launched a campaign called “De-Stress Your ROSE.” For many physicians, ROSE is a very stressful process – they want to perform rapid on-site evaluation, but they want to avoid the challenges we discussed earlier.  The De-Stress Your ROSE campaign communicates that there is a solution, or set of solutions, available to help them de-stress their overall ROSE process and still offer their customers and patients the best care possible. So, that’s a summary of our current initiatives.

MC:  This campaign sounds like a public service announcement targeted to cytopathologists where they not only recognize the benefits of ROSE, but they also recognize the stresses and disruptive nature that it brings. Acknowledgement is the first step.  ASP Health provides the end-to-end solution that not only prepares the slides but also extends the process to assist the cytopathologist in their evaluation of the samples. What are your expectations for the De-Stress Your ROSE campaign?  Is there involvement or interest from the ASC to see a reduction in the cost of ROSE procedures, the duration of ROSE procedures, or some other performance metric?

HS:  We’re still an early-stage company and don’t have a huge marketing budget to push this De-Stress Your ROSE campaign. We have a two-year time horizon to fully educate our customers on ways to de-stress their ROSE. For us, it is a long-term commitment, and we want to continue to provide innovative solutions for our customers.

Our internal KPIs are closely linked to some of the challenges that we are facing, such as the adoption of these new technologies like ROSE.  Change management is important because we are asking them to change the way they’re already performing ROSE.  We have to slowly shift that mindset.  Customers don’t come to these conferences to solve problems with ROSE – they’re not aware of any technologies that provide solutions for ROSE. Finding a solution for ROSE is not at the top of their mind. It’s when they visit our booth, see the solutions, and think, “Wow. This is interesting.” But when they return to work, the excitement is lost. Our goal over the next year is to educate 20-25% of our customers that there are problems and that there is a solution available for rapid on-site evaluation.

The second KPI also relates to solving a challenge.  Many customers don’t know that the ROSE problem can be solved, and they give up on it or just accept it. About five years ago, they would have been performing ROSE on many patients, but because of accelerated staff shortages post-COVID, they say, “I’m not going to perform ROSE anymore.” Let me give you a scenario of progress.  Five years ago, I did not know anything about ROSE or its importance while performing an FNA. Flash forward five years and, with education, my perspective has changed. The first question I’m going to ask the physician is, “Are you going to perform rapid on-site evaluation for this particular Fine Needle Aspirate process?” Once I know about ROSE, I want to have ROSE. The problem is that patients are not aware of the need to perform or benefits of rapid on-site evaluation. Many publications show the importance of ROSE, but many patient-centric articles on cancer don’t discuss rapid on-site evaluation despite all the benefits of ROSE.  We want to create awareness among the patients. You see in ad campaigns, “Ask your doctor about this, ask your doctor about that.” That’s the awareness that we want to bring.  To do this, we hope to partner with at least four to five cancer societies or associations to develop an unbranded patient awareness campaign focused on the need to perform ROSE.

Yes, we do have KPIs. We have metrics, etc., but those are mostly product-driven metrics. We also have internal commercial KPIs because we need to have sales at the end of the day, too.

MC:  Knowing the importance of ROSE, your goal is to educate patients and get them to ask their physicians if it’s right for them — flipping the script, if you will. Certainly there isn’t any harm in patients asking their doctor about ROSE.  If ROSE is something that reduces patient visits, reduces visits into the hospital for diagnostic procedures, saves money for the insurer, hospital and patient, and saves time for hospital staff, then this sounds like a wonderful thing that you’re doing. So what is the future of ROSE? What do you see coming with ROSE in the context of the broader healthcare environment?

HS:  We see rapid on-site evaluation being used more and more in these procedures. Let me give you an example of the patient journey, and then I’ll explain why I expect ROSE procedures to increase exponentially in the near future. Currently, a patient gets screened for lung cancer. They get a CT and, according to current guidelines, anyone over the age of 50 and a regular smoker needs to get an FNA of the lung to confirm the CT results. Today, only 5% of the eligible population is getting screened for lung cancer. Compare this to colonoscopy, when, even with the challenges associated with it, close to 70-80% of the eligible population get a colonoscopy. There are a variety of reasons why only 5% of the eligible population goes through CT for lung cancer screening. The US federal government and cancer societies are constantly encouraging patients to go in for these kinds of screenings. Of the patients who get screened, a proportion will have a tumor in their lung, and then these people must have FNA procedures. So right now, a small proportion of the eligible population gets screened, and a smaller proportion gets FNAs, and only a fraction of them go through the rapid on-site evaluation process. If this 5% were to increase to 10%, there would be a significant increase in FNA procedures performed, and that will require ROSE. If this were to increase close to 15-fold, then you’ll see a massive increase in the need for ROSE procedures. We foresee the number of ROSE procedures continuing to expand for years to come.

We also foresee that ROSE may actually morph into what we could call “same day diagnosis to treatment.” Many of these technologies are improving every day. With FNA procedures specifically, those technologies have improved so much that when the physician finds a cancerous tumor, they can ablate the tumor using microwave or thermal ablation. This is what may happen in the next 2, 3, or 4 years, when the patient doesn’t have to come back multiple times to the hospital – once for diagnosis, next for treatment – and it may all happen on the same day. In this scenario, ROSE would play a critical role and not just for adequacy analysis. It could be used for cancer diagnosis where the sample is obtained from the patient, the physician looks at it immediately to make a diagnosis, and once confirmed to be cancer, the physician could ablate it immediately. So, to answer your question, we foresee two things. First is the expansion of ROSE itself, and the second is the morphing of ROSE from general adequacy assessment to something more, a diagnostic assessment.

MC:  It is clear how the solution that ASP Health has put together would help address the increase in ROSE procedures while de-stressing the whole process. This could then aid in diagnosis followed by an interventional procedure, all on the same day. That sounds very promising!

Those are all the questions I have. Thank you for your time, and thank you for sharing your background and information and your perspectives on ROSE and what may happen with rapid on-site evaluation in the future.

Learn more about ASP Health at https://asp-health.com/

Learn more about the RC500 Remote Collaboration System at https://www.accu-scope.com/product/rc500/

In fluorescence microscopy and after sample preparation, illumination is everything.  Your light source seems to be working well, but there doesn’t seem to be as much excitation light getting to your specimen.  So how healthy is your liquid light guide (LLG)?

The LLG is a crucial component delivering the light from the light source (lamp-based or LED illuminator) to the microscope.  Several factors can affect the efficiency of this light transmission.

1. Age of the LLG.  A LLG has an expected life span of about 4000 hours.  Maybe it’s time for a new LLG to restore the performance of your system.
2. Bubble formation.  Bubbles commonly form in LLGs, but this doesn’t mean you need to replace it, or do you?
3. LLG installation is not optimal.  The LLG doesn’t typically slide out of the light source by itself, but it only takes a second to ensure it is properly inserted.
4. LLG isn’t straight.  Bends in the LLG can and will reduce light transmission, and may lead to premature aging of the LLG.

LLGs are widely used today with modern LED-based and solid state illuminators.  Does your fluorescence light source use an LLG?  You will want to read this troubleshooting guide (extracted from old Excelitas X-Cite® 120 documentation) to determine if your LLG performance can be revived, or if it’s time for a new LLG.

Excelitas_Liquid-Light-Guide_Troubleshooting-Guide_v011525

If it’s time for a new LLG, ACCU-SCOPE can help.  Contact Us for assistance.

Is there a financial argument in favor of implementing telepathology?  The short answer is ‘yes’.  Besides several obvious benefits, other less tangible results can be added to this list.

1. Telepathology eliminates the need to transport slides to a pathologist for review.  This saves the time in transit and cost of shipping.
2. Telepathology eliminates the need for pathologists to travel off site for case reviews.
3. Pathologists have time to support more cases, bringing in more revenue.
4. Pathologists have more time to perform the other duties required by their positions.
5. Telepathology permits faster case reviews, especially those involving ROSE.  This, in turn, may allow for additional FNA procedures to be conducted, thereby adding additional revenue.
6. Telepathology provides access to pathologists and subspecialists to remote or understaffed hospitals.  This can also be extended to ROSE evaluations.
7. Telepathology enhances ergonomics by viewing slide images on monitors as opposed to using traditional microscopes.

The downside is that telepathology can require significant start up costs, especially if you are considering WSI (whole slide imaging) scanners.  This needn’t be the case.  The RC500 Remote Collaboration System for live telepathology provides nearly instant access to patient samples and is compatible with a broad range of preparations including FNAs, wet mounts and smears.  A remote reviewer can begin assessment as soon as a PA or technician can load a slide onto the stage of the RC500.

Would you like to learn more about the RC500?

CLICK HERE to request a demonstration

Click Here to Download the RC500 Brochure

CLICK HERE to view more details about RC500

Implementing digital pathology mustn’t require massive investment in whole slide scanners, upgrades to storage capacity to support multi-gigabyte images, overhauling the IT infrastructure, and reconfiguring the pathology workflow.  You can start your digital pathology journey from a more approachable perspective.

The RC500 Remote Telepathology System may be just what the doctor ordered without the need for huge investments.  The RC500 has all the functionality of a traditional microscope with the added benefit of remote control.  Leveraging remote desktop applications, a remote reviewer can control all aspects of the microscope except for physically loading a slide.  If you prefer the real feel of a traditional microscope, the RC500 is all that, including XY stage controls.

Are you ready to learn more or even take the RC500 for a test drive?

CLICK HERE to request a demonstration

Click Here to Download the RC500 Brochure

Click Here to view more details about RC500

Essential to the effective review of patient slides is the efficient navigation of the specimens.  The RC500 Remote Live Telepathology System offers local users and remote reviewers several options for fast and efficient slide navigation.

The map view (green box) provides a 30,000-foot survey of one or two slides currently on the stage.  In less than a minute from the time the slides are placed on the stage, the slide map is visible and ready for navigation.  Clicking on any area of the map drives the slide to that location and displays the patient sample at the current objective magnification.

The navigation menu is the most popular means to move the slides.  The image moves in the direction of the arrows by the percentage of the field of view indicated in the center (50% in the example image).  The option is also available for the stage to move continuously in the horizontal (X) axis.

A third option for navigation is through the image window.  Clicking anywhere in the image will cause that location to move to the center of the image window (called click-to-center).  You can also choose to click and drag the image to move the slide.

One more navigation method is reserved for the local user.   In addition to the motorized stage on the RC500, the stage also has traditional XY stage stalks for a very familiar specimen movement experience.

Are you ready to take the RC500 for a test drive?

CLICK HERE to request a demonstration

Click Here to Download the RC500 Brochure

Click Here to  view more details about RC500

To put it simply, telepathology is the practice of pathology from a distance.  At the time of observation, the original glass slide is not in the possession of the reviewing pathologist.

Originally, telepathology was performed by sending a digital image of a patient specimen to a remote pathologist for review.  As technology improved, the single static digital image was replaced by streaming live video of patient samples across a hospital network or even the internet, but the remote pathologist lacked the ability to navigate the specimen without assistance from the local operator.  With further advances in network and internet technologies, remote pathologists became able to control the microscopes and navigate the slides almost as if they were sitting at the very microscope with the patient slides.  This is often referred to as real-time telepathology.  More recently, whole slide imagers digitize entire slides and, storing them on large servers or the cloud, make those images accessible to reviewing pathologists who can easily survey the slide at low magnification, then seamlessly zoom in for more detailed inspection before rendering a diagnosis.

So why use telepathology?

Telepathology offers faster access to experts for consultation and faster diagnoses.  With real-time telepathology, even remote pathologists can provide reviews as quickly as a local pathologist who is sitting at the microscope, and significantly faster than if the slides are mailed to them.

Telepathology allows for live consultation and collaboration with multiple members of the patient’s care team, keeping everyone informed and on the same page to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.

Telepathology saves time and money for most institutions.  The delay and cost of shipping slides is avoided.  Diagnoses can be made quickly, often while the patient is still in the OR, thereby accelerating the time-to-treatment.  Telepathology also provides access to specialists and facilitates case review in understaffed institutions.

The list of benefits goes on: educational opportunities, second opinions on difficult cases, reduction in patient stress, clinical research, provides expert care for underserved patients, and more.

ACCU-SCOPE recently introduced the RC500 Remote Collaboration System for live telepathology.  It works like a microscope because it is a microscope: range of objectives, motorized stage, high-precision digital camera, motorized stage and focus for slide navigation from anywhere.

Would you like to learn more about the RC500 Remote Collaboration System for Live Telepathology?

CLICK HERE to request a demonstration

Click Here to Download the RC500 Brochure

Click Here to view more details about RC500

Since the 1980s, telepathology has been providing an efficient and effective means to review patient samples by a remote pathologist.  Although considered to be an antiquated technique by some, microscope-based telepathology still affords healthcare institutions and pathologists a list of benefits (and features) that are still unmatched by many whole slide imaging technologies.

With a microscope-based telepathology system, you can…

1. Review glass slides on-site or remotely.
2. Invite one or more specialists for live, simultaneous remote viewing and consultation.
3. Use the full optical resolution of multiple objectives.
4. Freely adjust focus on the fly through thick and thin samples.
5. Review slides immediately without interrupting a scan or adding slides to a queue for scanning.
6. Review wet mounts, frozen sections, FNAs.
7. Use other contrast methods than histological staining (i.e., polarization, darkfield).
8. Use 1” x 3” and 2” x 3” slides.
9. Use oil immersion.
10. Use the microscope as a conventional stand-alone microscope.

Are you interested in learning more about the RC500 Remote Collaboration System for Live Telepathology?

CLICK HERE to request a demonstration

Click Here to Download the RC500 Brochure

Click Here to  view more details about RC500

From recent surveys, studies and medical school records, the pathology gap (imbalance between practitioners vs growing incidence of disease) is further exacerbated by impending retirements, a decline in graduation rates, and entry into subspecialties (when adjusted for population levels). [1]

Further complicating this pathology gap are continued cost-cutting measures imposed by independent institutions, facilities, insurers, and agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  In their latest ruling on the physician fee schedule, the CMS reported that there will be a 1.25% overall reduction in the CY 2024 PFS from CY 2023. [2]  By comparison, there was no overall reduction from CY 2022 to CY 2023.  Tightening the belt even further, the 3.75% temporary CY 2021 payment increase provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 is set to expire.

How can pathologists and healthcare institutions do more with less?

Streamline the pathology workflow: 

Following the concept of lean production, pathologists can focus on the work that they do best by off-loading other work to pathology assistants (e.g., tissue grossing) and other care extenders. [1]  This leaves the pathologist to focus their resources on what only they can do – confirm findings and sign the case report.

Extend access to pathologists:

Telepathology enables access to pathologists and sub-specialists, regardless of location.  Even when the pathologist is in the same facility, they can readily review live patient cases via remote viewing to render or confirm findings and, without further delay, advance care for the patient.  When the pathologist is not located in the facility with the patient slides, they can still utilize remote telepathology to view the patient samples.  Used in conjunction with ROSE cases, remote telepathology can translate into shortened OR time for the patient, thus reducing overall costs for the patient, insurer, and healthcare system.  Following suit, specialists can also be utilized via telepathology to review challenging cases.

How can the ACCU-SCOPE® RC500 Remote Telepathology System help close the pathology gap and ease the burden on the healthcare system?

The RC500 Remote Collaboration System was developed to address the need for live telepathology and as an alternative to costly slide scanning methods.  Through remote sharing technology, a pathologist can review glass slides from any location and at any time.

Through telepathology, the RC500 enables the remote reviewing of patient slides regardless of proximity to the laboratory.  Likewise, the patient care team also benefits from live telepathology by enabling access to readily available sub-specialists when additional expertise is required.  Additionally, live telepathology, as in FNAs and ROSE, improves patient care by shortening the time for review and accelerating treatment.

Would you like to learn more about the RC500 Remote Collaboration System for Live Telepathology?

CLICK HERE to request a demonstration

Click Here to  view more details about RC500

Click Here to Download the RC500 Brochure