A microscope (12) is used to optically section an object at a plurality of focal depths over a plurality of time periods. The optical sections are digitized (18), and a tag allows identification of at least the time and the focal depth of each digitized optical section. Image processing creates an outline of the periphery of the object through application of a complexity threshold algorithm. A plurality of parameters representing the motility and morphology of the object are calculated. A three dimensional graphical representation of the object is reconstructed from the plurality of digitized optical sections for computerized viewing (26).
