TY - JOUR
T1 - Color Vision Deficiency Survey in Anatomic Pathology
AU - Flotte, Thomas J.
AU - Cornell, Lynn D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pathology. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/10/1
Y1 - 2022/10/1
N2 - Objectives: To learn what color vision-deficient pathologists and cytotechnologists consider their most significant problems and advantages as well as any accommodations. Methods: An anonymous online survey developed for practicing pathologists and cytotechnologists regarding their experiences with stains was sent to the members of 4 national societies. Results: We received 377 responses. Twenty-three people, all men, identified themselves as color vision deficient, with 22 reporting red-green color vision deficiency and 1 reporting uncertain type. Eight pathologists and cytotechnologists indicated that they thought that their color vision deficiency conferred advantages to them, including a greater appreciation of morphology, with less confusion resulting from variations in stain quality or intensity. Nineteen pathologists and cytotechnologists thought that their color vision deficiency conferred disadvantages; the most common disadvantages stated were the identification of eosinophils and acid-fast bacilli. Other difficulties included interpretation of RBCs and nucleoli and sometimes Alcian blue, Brown and Brenn, Congo red, crystal violet, Fite, Giemsa, mucicarmine, periodic acid-Schiff, and fluorescence in situ hybridization stains. Only 2 of the color vision-deficient pathologists and cytotechnologists found digital slides more difficult than glass slides. Conclusions: Color vision-deficient pathologists and cytotechnologists report that they have developed approaches to viewing slides that do not compromise their interpretations. Digital pathology may provide several approaches for aiding color vision-deficient pathologists with the interpretation of certain stains.
AB - Objectives: To learn what color vision-deficient pathologists and cytotechnologists consider their most significant problems and advantages as well as any accommodations. Methods: An anonymous online survey developed for practicing pathologists and cytotechnologists regarding their experiences with stains was sent to the members of 4 national societies. Results: We received 377 responses. Twenty-three people, all men, identified themselves as color vision deficient, with 22 reporting red-green color vision deficiency and 1 reporting uncertain type. Eight pathologists and cytotechnologists indicated that they thought that their color vision deficiency conferred advantages to them, including a greater appreciation of morphology, with less confusion resulting from variations in stain quality or intensity. Nineteen pathologists and cytotechnologists thought that their color vision deficiency conferred disadvantages; the most common disadvantages stated were the identification of eosinophils and acid-fast bacilli. Other difficulties included interpretation of RBCs and nucleoli and sometimes Alcian blue, Brown and Brenn, Congo red, crystal violet, Fite, Giemsa, mucicarmine, periodic acid-Schiff, and fluorescence in situ hybridization stains. Only 2 of the color vision-deficient pathologists and cytotechnologists found digital slides more difficult than glass slides. Conclusions: Color vision-deficient pathologists and cytotechnologists report that they have developed approaches to viewing slides that do not compromise their interpretations. Digital pathology may provide several approaches for aiding color vision-deficient pathologists with the interpretation of certain stains.
KW - Color vision deficiency
KW - Digital pathology
KW - Human vision
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U2 - 10.1093/ajcp/aqac081
DO - 10.1093/ajcp/aqac081
M3 - Article
C2 - 35913114
AN - SCOPUS:85139573153
SN - 0002-9173
VL - 158
SP - 516
EP - 520
JO - American journal of clinical pathology
JF - American journal of clinical pathology
IS - 4
ER -