A system for three dimensional representation of confocal microscope images

Antigenic markers on blood cells can be detected using laser scanning confocal microscopy imaging of fluorescence antibody labelling. The confocal microscopy images provide a series of 2D images. It can be difficult to interpret the data from the 2D images since the continuity of the labels may not be easy to assess. The authors have developed a computer system to provide a 3D representation of laser scanning confocal microscopy data on a Personal Computer. They have applied the system to test images and data from confocal microscopy imaging studies of antigenic markers on blood cells. Application of the system to test image data provided appropriate representation. When applied to the blood cell images, the system permitted examination of the distribution of antigenic labels from different views. Thus this system may be of value in further understanding confocal imaging data