Methods and apparatus for bio-fluid specimen characterization using neural network having reduced training

A method of characterizing a specimen using a trained neural network, comprising:

• capturing images of a specimen container containing the specimen at an imaging location;
• generating a region proposal of a serum or plasma portion for input to the neural network;
• and
• converging the region proposal to provide a match for the serum or plasma portion of the specimen through regression to provide a validated region.

A quality check system, comprising:

• an image capture device configured to capture multiple images of a specimen container containing a serum or plasma portion of a specimen;
• and
• a computer coupled to the image capture device, the computer configured and capable of being operated to:
• input image data from the multiple images to a neural network,
• generate a region proposal of serum or plasma portion,
• converge the region proposal through regression to provide a validated region, and
• output from the neural network a classification of the validated region as being one or more of hemolytic, icteric, lipemic, and normal.