AUTOMATED FLUORESCENCE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION DETECTION OF GENETIC ABNORMALITIES

Automated sample analysis is performed by a computer-implemented apparatus and method for distinguishing objects of interest in an optical field from other objects and background in the optical field, collectively called background. Once an object has been identified, the color comprised of a combination of the red, green and blue components of the pixels occupied by the image of the object of interest, or another parameter of interest relative to that object can be measured and stored. This computer-implemented analysis apparatus and method is performed on objects of interest in the sample which are tagged using fluorescent tags. The sample may be a cell sample containing a nucleic acid target and the tagging achieved by fluorescence in situ hybridization.