Automation of routine clinical chromosome analysis. I. Karyotyping by machine.

An automated karyotyping system suitable for widespread use in clinical laboratories is described. The software is implemented on a general-purpose, commercially available image analyzer (Magiscan 2) using TV input from a conventional research microscope with minimal modification. The analysis is automatic, but operator interaction is used to resolve difficulties. Extensive experience with a routine clinical workload shows that the system is robust and easy to use and that its use results in a substantially increased laboratory throughput.