Utility of multifocus virtual slide in examination of urine sediment: Multifocus virtual slide in examination of urine sediment

Abstract

Multifocus virtual slides show images that are generated by digitalizing specimens on glass slides. Since the sample components can be observed in three dimensions by changing the depth of focus, it is possible to perform an evaluation similarly to actual microscopy observation. In this study, we examined students who completed a two-week general laboratory practice in our hospital. Both photographs and multifocus virtual slides of the same components of urine sediments were presented to the students. We tried to confirm the utility of the multifocus virtual slides by comparing the accuracy rate between both methods. The accuracy rate was higher for the multifocus virtual slides than for the photographs because the students can easily discriminate the thickness of the components, the material contained in the casts, and the brightness of fat globules by changing the focus. The multifocus virtual slides were proven to be efficacious. However, it is also important to observe the urine sediments under direct visual examination using a microscope, since there are some problems such as the difficulty of determining the cell size in a single application of this method. It is concluded that providing good tips on cell observation through combinational learning from the early years of education may increase the educational effectiveness.