The Kubic FLOTAC microscope (KFM): a new compact digital microscope for helminth egg counts

Abstract

Abstract

Ascaris lumbricoideseggs or artefacts? A diagnostic conundrum

“…However, automated identification and counting of STH eggs, based on artificial intelligence will be very useful in order to reduce human errors and time of reading, increasing diagnostic efficiency (Lu et al, 2018;Moser et al, 2018;Sukas et al, 2019;Cringoli et al, 2021). Moreover, often these tools permit also to transfer via internet the captured pictures to other laboratories, supporting the technicians also directly in the field (Tele-Parasitology) (Cringoli et al, 2021). Therefore, in this way, it will be possible also to achieve one of the main goals of the WHO NTD 2021-2030 roadmap to control and eliminate STH in endemic regions, using standardized and advanced diagnostic techniques (WHO, 2020).…”

“…for the detection of helminth eggs. These systems are currently improving to increase the sensitivity and accuracy or to reduce the costs or to validate the tools in the lab and/or in the field (Cringoli et al, 2021). However, automated identification and counting of STH eggs, based on artificial intelligence will be very useful in order to reduce human errors and time of reading, increasing diagnostic efficiency (Lu et al, 2018;Moser et al, 2018;Sukas et al, 2019;Cringoli et al, 2021).…”

“…These systems are currently improving to increase the sensitivity and accuracy or to reduce the costs or to validate the tools in the lab and/or in the field (Cringoli et al, 2021). However, automated identification and counting of STH eggs, based on artificial intelligence will be very useful in order to reduce human errors and time of reading, increasing diagnostic efficiency (Lu et al, 2018;Moser et al, 2018;Sukas et al, 2019;Cringoli et al, 2021). Moreover, often these tools permit also to transfer via internet the captured pictures to other laboratories, supporting the technicians also directly in the field (Tele-Parasitology) (Cringoli et al, 2021).…”

The role of diagnostic technologies to measure progress toward WHO 2030 targets for soil-transmitted helminth control programs

“…This controversy suggests that the KK procedure is in principle a valid method, but improvements in the readout and reporting procedure could alleviate the shortcomings. The integration of egg detection and readout technologies have been prototyped in, e.g., the FECPAK G2 , KANKANET, spin-disc platforms, and mini-FLOTAC KUBIC [15][16][17][18]. However, the field experience of these technologies provide lessons around complexity and turnaround time as compared to the reference method (Table 2).…”

“…Developments into the field of digital pathology linked to artificial intelligence (AI) might be applied to KK, provided they can be made cost comparable to the current manual procedure ("affordable digital pathology"). The principle of an automated KK concept has been demonstrated (proof of technical feasibility is available) [16,18], and the development only depends on the availability of image databases and the integration of engineering activities to mitigate the shortcomings of the error-prone microscopic manual readout and reporting.…”