Image analysis methods and apparatus are used for determination of the
ploidy of cells. The methods may involve segmenting an image to identify
one or more discrete regions occupied by cells or nuclei, determining the
presence of a particular ploidy indicator feature within the region(s),
and providing a value of the indicator feature to a model that classifies
cells' ploidy on the basis of the indicator feature. In some embodiments,
the indicator feature is a level of DNA in a cell. In certain
embodiments, the method further comprises treating one or more cells with
a marker that highlights the ploidy indicator feature. In certain
embodiments, the cells are treated prior to producing one or more images
of the one or more cells. In certain embodiments, the ploidy indicator
feature comprises DNA and the marker co-locates with DNA and provides a
signal that is captured in the image. In certain embodiments, the signal
comprises a fluorescent emission.