Evaluating Urine Cytology Slide Digitization Efficiency: A Comparative Study Using an Artificial Intelligence-Based Heuristic Scanning Simulation and Multiple-Z-Plane Scanning.

We demonstrated that the heuristic scan offers a cost-effective alternative to the conventional multi-Z-plane scan in digital cytopathology. It achieves comparable SHGUC+ cell capture rates while reducing both scanning time and image file size, promising to aid digital urine cytology interpretations with a higher accuracy rate compared to the conventional single (optimal) plane scan. Further studies are needed to assess the integration of this new technology into compatible digital scanners for practical cytology slide scanning.