The invention is an image processing method and an apparatus for automatic categorization of elements in an image of a body fluid sample, the apparatus comprising - a recognition module (RM) for generating probability maps associated with each category on the basis of visual information appearing in the image, the probability map showing presence probability distribution of the element of the given category, and - a decision module (DM) for providing information about the presence of elements of the categories on the basis of an analysis of the probability maps. The apparatus according to the invention furthermore comprises - a calling module (CM) for locating presumably present elements in the image (10) and calling the decision module (DM) regarding each presumably present element, and - the decision module (DM) is adapted for taking into account, in examining the presence of the element, at least one further probability map other than the probability map (11) associated with the category of the element.