Digital Morphology

Currently, blood samples are viewed under a microscope on slides processed, spread and stained in our laboratories. To inspect samples, those reporting must either attend the laboratories in person or have the slides physically returned to them. However, digital morphology will see state-of-the-art scanners (Scopio X100) and high-resolution monitors installed in our laboratories. They will scan the slides to create detailed digital images of samples that can be viewed on a desktop monitor.

Easier access to viewing slides will speed up the diagnosis process, enabling clinicians to work more efficiently. With samples viewable online from any location, it will become easier to get opinions from haematologists anywhere in the world with access to the system. Slides will be moved around far less, minimising risks linked to logistics and handling. Digital morphology offers a smoother experience for you, with two monitors provided to analyse samples, view LIMS information and report results - and no need for microscopes.

Yes - the digital scans and monitors will make it possible to view whole slides at 100x resolution. You’ll also be able to zoom in to view sharp individual cellular and subcellular detail at 100x magnification.

Haematology consultants at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals will start using the new digital system from April 2, 2024 to view GP and outpatient films made at the hub. Initially, blood films from on-site hospital patients will continue to be viewed under microscopes, as before. The full rollout of digital morphology for all inpatient slides at St Thomas’, Guy’s, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals will take place later in the year, with launch and training dates to be confirmed soon. So, for a while at GSTT, hub samples will be digital and on-site films will need to be read manually under a microscope.

We are investing in this technology so you don’t have to travel to the laboratory. Instead, you’ll be able to view your slides remotely from wherever you’re working, provided you have access to the new system. Clinicians will no longer need to visit laboratories, meaning you can spend more time on direct patients care and support.

Please log into the Synnovis portal here using the details emailed to you earlier this week.
Reset your password and check you can still log in. Passwords must be at least eight characters long and include three of the following (please note that you cannot use all four):

• Upper-case letters
• Lower-case letters
• Numbers
• Special characters (exclamation marks, pound signs, percentage signs etc.)

Please ensure you do not repeat any numbers or letters when resetting your password.

Using your new Synnovis login details, you can then access Scopio’s training video via another link emailed to you earlier this week. By March 22, please watch the first 20 minutes of the clip and email Suzanne (suzanne.arulogun@gstt.nhs.uk), cc’ing in Synnovis IT Project Manager Jordan Dart (Jordan.SinclairDart@synnovis.co.uk), to confirm you have done so.

You will access your digital slides by logging into a new web-based Scopio application. Please launch the application by logging into the Synnovis portal and clicking the ‘FBC Scopio’ icon, then log in using the generic details emailed to you by Suzanne on March 13. When you have successfully logged in, please email Suzanne and Jordan to let them know you have access. These steps should also be completed by March 22.

Your usual Trust IT Support team will be on hand in the event of any problems. They will escalate any issues they are unable to resolve to Synnovis or supplier Scopio.

The Scopio digital pathology system has a program that produces an AI report of each film, which will be introduced later in the year. We will still expect biomedical scientists and haematology clinicians to review films to check the AI conclusion, but it is anticipated that the process will be quicker than before.