A new parameter to evaluate the quality of fiber count data of slides with relocatable fields

Asbestos reference slides with relocatable fields are effective in determining the fiber counting errors and evaluating intercounter precision and accuracy. The process is time consuming and expensive as it requires (a) the analysts to record the number and the positions of the fibers and (b) an experienced microscopist to determine the errors. A new parameter based on the discrepancies between the reported fibers and the verified fibers is being investigated for monitoring the quality of fiber counts. The discrepancies are related to the fiber counting errors. The new process requires the analysts to report only the fibers in each field examined.