System and method for the detection of abnormalities in a biological sample

A system for the detection of abnormalities in a biological sample comprising cells, which system is capable to carry out, and/or comprises means capable to carry out, at least the following steps:

• a) acquiring an image of said sample by digital image acquisition
• b) optionally, carrying out digital image processing
• c) selecting a field of view
• d) determining, by digital image processing, whether or not, in said field of view, cell aggregates exist, and
• e1) selecting a new field of view and carrying on with step c) if, in step d), it turns out that, in said field of view, the determination of cell aggregates is negative, or
• e2) carrying out further process steps if, in step d), it turns out that, in said field of view, the determination of cell aggregates is affirmative,
• f) determining the degree of variation of at least one give morphological feature of at least two cells in the field of view, and
• g1) classifying the sample as “likely to comprise abnormal cells” if the degree of variation of said morphological feature exceeds a predetermined threshold, or
• g2) classifying the sample as “likely to comprise normal cells” if the dregree of variation of said morphological feature falls below a predetermined threshold,
• wherein said morphological feature is at least one selected from the group consisting of
• cell nucleus size, or area
• regularity of shape of a cell, and/or a cell nucleus
• size ratio of cytoplasm to nucleus, in a given cell, and/or
• ratio of areas of cytoplasm and nucleus, in a given cell.