The Division of Laboratory Systems efforts to create a computer-based cytology proficiency test led to the development of a virtual slide program called MicroScreen. MicroScreen technology is an automated process of collecting digital images at multiple focal planes from a microscopic glass slide. Other magnifications are created after capture. An entire glass slide captured using MicroScreen is large (>500MB) since thousands of fields of view are tiled together to create the single virtual image.

Two types of virtual slides can be created: CytoView or MultiFocus.

Demonstration of Cytoview II
CytoView displays a portion or an entire microscopic slide. This technology is ideal for use as an educational or testing device that can include both locator and identification skills.

MultiFocus is a display program using a single field of view displayed at multiple focal planes. This technology is ideal for demonstrating the identification of cellular morphology. The size of a MultiFocus image can be around 2.5MB.

A cell and its multiple focal planes are illustrated below.

Not all features of the cell are visible in a single focal plane.
MultiFocus allows the computer user to change the focal plane seen while viewing the computer screen.

To change focal planes, move the mouse up and down the captured image below.