QUALITY-CONTROL OF IMPRINT AND TISSUE SECTION DNA-PLOIDY ANALYSIS IN IMAGE-ANALYSIS SYSTEMS UTILIZING CELL CULTURE-BASED CONTROL MATERIALS

Currently, there are no standard controls available for quality contro l of DNA ploidy assays in image analysis systems. The authors have dev eloped a system of controls based on cultured human cell lines that ca n mimic tissue sections and touch preparations. This allows for qualit y control for the entire process for DNA ploidy analysis from the init ial cutting of the paraffin block or production of the touch preparati on through fixation, staining, and interactive image analysis. The use of cell line controls rather than normal tissue is advantageous becau se of cell population homogeneity and the volume of uniform slides tha t are obtainable. This system, while providing an excellent means of c ontrolling day-to-day performance of DNA ploidy analysis, may also be adapted for use as a means of multi-institutional proficiency testing.