Microscopy Tips and Tricks
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Eric J. Fish, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Eric J. Fish, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Dr. Eric Fish is a veterinarian, pathologist, scientist, educator, and business leader with over a decade of experience in veterinary medicine and the life sciences. His diverse background spans roles in academia as well as the private sector, including both start-ups and corporate medical technology companies. Dr. Fish was an early adopter of digital pathology, having started a static telecytology company called CytoVetStat and co-founding Lacuna Diagnostics (which was acquired by Heska in 2021).
His professional areas of interest include hematology and bone marrow disorders, oncologic pathology, iron metabolism and biomarkers, microRNA profiling, digital pathology, and applied computer vision and deep learning AI/ML (particularly computational pathology). In addition to subject matter expertise in these areas, Dr. Fish has led research and development as an executive, principal investigator, and as an innovation manager leading cross-functional teams of engineers, scientists, product managers, and managers in finance, procurement, and operations.
Overview:
This presentation will be a comprehensive guide for veterinary professionals to enhance their cytology skills for improved diagnostic accuracy. In it, you will learn the importance of proper techniques in collecting, preparing, and staining cytology and hematology slides for accurate diagnostics. Key points include the effective use of fine-needle aspiration, various smear preparation methods like the horizontal and vertical pull-apart techniques, and the critical role of proper slide staining and air-drying. The session also covers effusion sample collection, the preparation of blood smears, and the significance of quality assessment at low magnification. Finally, you will learn valuable microscopy tips for better sample evaluation.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the proper techniques for collecting cytology samples, including fine-needle aspiration (FNA), and identify potential issues in sample collection.
- Learn different slide preparation methods (horizontal and vertical pull-apart, impression cytology, blood smear) and their appropriate applications.
- Identify best practices in staining cytology samples and evaluate the impact of stain type on diagnostic quality.
- Recognize key principles of microscopy, including proper focus, illumination, and slide evaluation techniques.
- Assess slide quality and cellularity to determine if a cytology sample is adequate for diagnostic interpretation.
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
