ABSTRACT Background This UK‐based pilot study explores a hybrid approach integrating virtual (VM) and light microscopy (LM), using partial‐slide imaging (PSI) at ×20 magnification (equivalent to approximately ×58 effective output magnification). Method This study utilised a 3D Histech Pannoramic MIDI II Slide scanner to digitise 50 peripheral blood smears. PSI was specifically defined by capturing the feathered edge and monolayer regions of the smears. A diverse range of 44 conditions, characterised by distinct morphological features across red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet lineages, was investigated. A comparative analysis between traditional LM and VM was then performed, alongside assessment of scan times and storage requirements, with statistical analyses using Student's t ‐tests, where a p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Excluding parasites, the critical morphological features were reliably assessed, with diagnostic images from VM judged comparable and adequate to LM: the three subcellular features—Döhle bodies, basophilic stippling and Auer rods—were verified side‐by‐side, while overall 44 features were assessed using a three‐point graded scale. Operationally, PSI at ×20 magnification demonstrated substantial efficiency, with a mean scan time of 4 min 17 s and storage of 1.18 GB per slide, representing statistically significant reductions ( p < 0.05) in both scanning time and storage compared to whole‐slide imaging. Conclusion This pilot‐scale study supports a hybrid model, demonstrating that PSI at 20× shows promising feasibility for morphological assessment within a hybrid VM–LM model, but further validation is required to confirm diagnostic equivalence with LM. This study offers significantly reduced scan times and storage requirements compared to whole‐slide imaging.
Ali et al. (2026) studied this question.