Patent ID: 7945391

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for transforming image data of a body fluid or tissue sample into non-image data, the method comprising: creating first, second and third image data sets representing images from a body fluid or tissue sample that has been treated with a first reagent that generates a first signal, a second reagent that generates a second signal, and a third reagent that generates a third signal, respectively; and wherein said first reagent interacts with candidate blobs in which rare cells may reside, wherein said second reagent is selected to interact with a first diagnostic component of said rare cell, and said third reagent is selected to interact with a second diagnostic component of said rare cell; and wherein said first image data set is taken at a first magnification, said second image data and said third image data are taken at a magnification greater than said first magnification, using a computerized microscopic vision system; determining second and third image data sets positionally found within said first image data set; probing said second and third image data sets, found within said first image data set, to detect said second and said third signals indicative of said first and said second diagnostic conditions related to said rare cell; and outputting data describing said first, second and third signal(s).