An inexpensive and compact opto-electronic system was built that is adapted to the way a highly trained cytotechnologist screens a sample. It uses spatial frequency plane filtering for fast information reduction. Due to their limited accuracy and low flexibility sample classification by exclusive use of optical processors is not possible. Therefore the system is intended only as an interactive screening aid to facilitate human cytoscreening and leaves the classification of the slide to the cytotechnologist. In principle it can also be used to speed up digital image processing systems.