Methods for detecting fluorescent signals in a biological sample

Abstract

A method for automated microscopic analysis wherein the test protocol is obtained from interrogatable data affixed to each microscope slide. The method further comprises the algorithms that implement the test protocol.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method performed by an apparatus, the method comprising:
 reading electronically-interrogatable data from each slide of one or more slides, wherein said each slide comprises a sample and said electronically-interrogatable data pertaining to said sample;   determining from said electronically-interrogatable data for said each slide of the one or more slides information on how said sample is to be analyzed; and   analyzing said sample situated on said each slide of said one or more slides using said information determined from said electronically-interrogatable data.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said electronically-interrogatable data is encoded on said each slide of one or more slides as a barcode or a barred array. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein sample is a biological sample. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said apparatus is a microscope or an automated microscope. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said analyzing comprises scanning said slide according to an analytical protocol comprised in said information. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said determining comprises obtaining an analytical protocol for said analyzing from a database using said information. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said analyzing comprises obtaining an image of the sample or a plurality of images at different magnifications of said sample or of a portion of said sample. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more slides comprise a plurality of slides and said plurality of slides is contained in one or more slide cassettes. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein before said reading, the method comprising:
 sequentially transporting each cassette of said one or more slide cassettes into a position suitable for loading corresponding one or more slides of said plurality of the slides comprised in said each slide cassette to a corresponding stage of said apparatus; and   for said each cassette of the sequentially transported slide cassettes, sequentially transporting said one or more slides of said plurality of the slides comprised in said each slide cassette to said corresponding stage of said apparatus for said reading, determining and analyzing.   
     
     
         34 . A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program comprising computer readable instructions recorded thereon for execution a method comprising:
 reading electronically-interrogatable data from each slide of one or more slides, wherein said each slide comprises a sample and said electronically-interrogatable data pertaining to said sample;   determining from said electronically-interrogatable data for said each slide of the one or more slides information on how said sample is to be analyzed; and   analyzing said sample situated on said each slide of said one or more slides using said information determined from said electronically-interrogatable data.   
     
     
         35 . The computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein said analyzing comprises scanning said slide according to an analytical protocol comprised in said information. 
     
     
         36 . The computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein said determining comprises obtaining an analytical protocol for said analyzing from a database using said information. 
     
     
         37 . The computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein said analyzing comprises obtaining an image of the sample or a plurality of images at different magnifications of said sample or of a portion of said sample. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a reading device, configured to read electronically-interrogatable data from each slide of one or more slides, wherein said each slide comprises a sample and electronically-interrogatable data pertaining to said sample;   a controller, configured to receive and determine from said electronically-interrogatable data for said each slide of the one or more slides information on how said sample is to be analyzed, and to provide instructions for performing a corresponding analysis based on said information; and   an analyzing module, responsive to said instructions from said controller, configured to analyze said sample situated on said each slide of said one or more slides using said instructions from said controller.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a stage configured to hold said each slide of the one or more slides in order to read electronically-interrogatable data and to analyze said sample using said instructions, and   wherein said corresponding analysis comprises scanning said slide according to an analytical protocol comprised in said information, and said analyzing module comprises a scanning device configured to provide said scanning.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said apparatus comprises a database, such that said controller is configured to determine said information on how said sample is to be analyzed from said database where said information is stored. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprises one or more objective lens components, such that said said apparatus comprises a focusing module configured to focus each of said one or more objective lens components on said sample or on a focal plane comprised within the sample while analyzing said sample according to said instructions. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said one or more objective lens components comprises two or more objective lens components, such that said apparatus is configured to obtain a plurality of images at different magnifications of said sample or of a portion of the sample using said two or more objective lens components. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said apparatus comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of said sample or a portion of said sample while analyzing said sample according to said instructions. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said apparatus is a part of a system which comprises other one or more components selected from the following components:
 a stage configured to hold said each slide of the one or more slides in order to read electronically-interrogatable data and to analyze said sample using said instructions;   a database, such that said controller is configured to determine said information on how said sample is to be analyzed from said database where said information is stored;   one or more objective lens components and a focusing module configured to focus each of said one or more objective lens components on said sample or on a focal plane comprised within the sample while analyzing said sample according to said instructions; and   an image capture device configured to capture an image of said sample or a portion of said sample while analyzing said sample according to said instructions.