Use of quality checks and processes across digital histopathology: an initial survey from the Bigpicture consortium

AIMS: In the end-to-end digital pathology workflow, variability can be introduced at each step, resulting in differences in the final image dataset. The effectiveness of quality control processes at each step of the workflow will impact the extent and relevance of this variability. METHODS: To assess the maturity of whole slide imaging (WSI) quality processes for the whole digital pathology workflow, we conducted an online questionnaire across 19 digitally active members of the Bigpicture consortium. RESULTS: A key finding was that a lower proportion of centres are implementing rigorous quality processes and checks processes at the post-scanning steps of the WSI workflow, such as 'digital reporting and display' (44%) and computational analysis (34%), when compared with pre-scanning steps such as 'pre-staining' (72%) and 'staining' (77%). CONCLUSIONS: This information allows us to identify priorities for quality improvement of the overall WSI workflow.