Patent ID: 8445411

Claim:
An automated method of detecting and enumerating circulating tumor cells in fluids obtained from patients, said method comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining a microscope slide having deposited thereon a cell population sample with one or more tumor cells therein, contacted with one or more distinguishable labeled probes directed to one or more characteristic features predetermined to identify a type of tumor cell among normal cells, wherein said contacting is done under conditions sufficient to affix said labeled probe; (ii) analyzing said labeled tumor cells on a high-throughput robotic digital microscopy platform programmed to automatically: (a) locate said labeled cell at low magnification; followed by (b) verification of type of tumor cells bearing at least one said labeled probe at high magnification; (c) determine a cell as a type of tumor cell if said labeled probe is detected at high magnification; (d) automatically counting normal cells and said type of tumor cells in a field; and (e) providing a representation of said type of tumor cells in said normal cell count.