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Bone Marrow Aspirate
Synonyms
None
Purpose
Doctors use the Bone Marrow Aspirate Test to examine the soft, spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are produced. It helps evaluate how well the bone marrow is functioning and is especially useful for identifying issues like anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other blood disorders.
Doctors often perform bone aspiration alongside a complete blood count (CBC), bone marrow biopsy, iron studies, cytogenetic testing, and flow cytometry to gain a clearer picture of the patient’s condition.
Patient Preparation
The physician will advise on whether to fast before the procedure. The doctor may give the patient medication to help them relax during the procedure, so the patient should bring someone along in case the medication causes drowsiness.
Samples
0.5-1.0 ml of bone marrow aspirate collected in an EDTA tube (preferably pediatric-sized). Aspirating more than 1 mL of sample risks dilution of the sample, which is not recommended. The sample should be processed immediately if possible. If not, it should be frozen at -80°c.
Reference Range
Normal functional blood cells.
Results Turnaround
2-3 days after sample collection.
Diseases / Diagnostic indicators
The results of a Bone Marrow Aspirate Test can reveal important information about blood cell production and help diagnose various conditions.
Abnormal findings may indicate blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma, bone marrow failure, or disorders such as aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
The test is also valuable in identifying infections, storage diseases, or metastasis of cancer from other parts of the body.
Doctors use the test to detect abnormalities in blood cell production and diagnose conditions like leukemia, anemia, and bone marrow disorders.
For more information on Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy, read this study.