Multi-nucleated cell classification and micronuclei scoring

A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a raw image of the cell-containing sample;
• transforming the raw image into a segmented image comprising one or more nuclei clusters on a contrasting background;
• for each of the one or more nuclei clusters:
• obtaining a convex hull of the nuclei cluster;
• locating any indentations on the nuclei cluster by comparing the nuclei cluster to the convex hull of the nuclei cluster;
• calculating a first nuclei count based on a tally of the indentations;
• and
• assigning the nuclei cluster to a cell among the plurality of cells;
• calculating a second nuclei count for each cell of the plurality of cells by totaling the first nuclei counts of its constituent nuclei clusters;
• and
• generating a result based on the second nuclei count for at least one of the plurality of cells.

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory coupled to the one or more processors and operable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:
• receiving a raw image of the cell-containing sample;
• transforming the raw image into a segmented image comprising one or more nuclei clusters on a contrasting background;
• for each of the one or more nuclei clusters:
• obtaining a convex hull of the nuclei cluster;
• locating any indentations on the nuclei cluster by comparing the nuclei cluster to the convex hull of the nuclei cluster;
• calculating a first nuclei count based on a tally of the indentations;
• and
• assigning the nuclei cluster to a cell among the plurality of cells;
• calculating a second nuclei count for each cell of the plurality of cells by totaling the first nuclei counts of its constituent nuclei clusters;
• and
• presenting to a user a result based on the second nuclei count for at least one of the plurality of cells.

A method of counting cell nuclei in a cell-containing sample, the method comprising:

• applying a nuclear stain to the cell-containing sample;
• recording an image of the cell-containing sample, after applying the stain;
• obtaining a convex hull of one or more clusters of nuclei in the image;
• for each of the one or more clusters for which a convex hull is obtained:
• ascertaining a number of nuclei in the cluster;
• and
• assigning the cluster to a cell;
• and
• providing a number of nuclei present in a cell in the sample.

A method of counting cell nuclei in a cell-containing sample, the method comprising:

• applying a nuclear stain to the cell-containing sample;
• obtaining an image of the cell-containing sample using a single channel of a fluorescent imaging apparatus;
• and
• without applying a second stain that marks cell cytoplasm in the cell-containing sample,
• analyzing the image of the cell-containing sample to obtain a count of the number of cell nuclei in the image.