CARF has access to state-of-the-art digital facilities at its reading centres equipped with high-performance dual-monitor grading stations. Normally one monitor is used for image manipulation and the other for the grading results form. The facility is connected to the University’s Joint Academic Network (SuperJanet) providing connection speeds of up to 1 Gbit for data transfer and internet access. Our servers are housed in a secure data centre and all data is backed up regularly and stored off-site for disaster recovery.

Image Acquisition

CARF can process images from the most commonly used image acquisition systems, including Heidelberg, Topcon, Zeiss, Canon, Optovue, Optos and Nidek. Our various image platforms enable images to be imported from a variety of capture systems, adhering to a specified export protocol. CARF can provide assistance with the implementation of these protocols. Any film images received can be converted into digital format for ease of storage, however, CARF can facilitate the grading of film or slides if required to do so.

Image Submission

CARF undertakes a series of submission consistency checks immediately on receipt to ensure that all images are correctly labelled and identified. If inconsistencies, omissions, or damage in transit are noted the submitting centre is contacted to resolve the problems found. All submissions are entered into a database, which enables immediate identification of all images received and their current status in the grading pathway.

Data Management

CARF has a set of comprehensive electronic grading forms which are completed by the graders during the grading process. As each form is populated it is automatically verified and validated and the data stored in a custom study-specific database.

The data generated during the grading process can be written either as a pipe-delimited text file or as an Excel spreadsheet for transmission to the research study Data Management Centre.

Transmission can be made either using specific Data Management Centre systems or via the CARF Secure FTP service.