Bone Marrow Testing


Bone Marrow Testing is the mainstay in Hematologic Diagnosis

Microscopic examination of the marrow is a mainstay of hematologic diagnosis. Even with the advent of specialized biochemical and molecular assays that capitalize on advances in our understanding of the cell biology of hematopoiesis, the primary diagnosis of hematologic malignancies and many non-neoplastic hematologic disorders relies upon examination of the cells in the marrow. An aspirate and biopsy of the marrow can be obtained with minimal risk and only minor discomfort and are quickly and easily processed for examination.

When to do Bone Marrow Testing?

The marrow should be examined when the clinical history, blood cell counts, blood film, or laboratory test results suggest the possibility of a primary or secondary hematologic disorder for which morphologic analysis or special studies of the marrow would aid in the diagnosis. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, bicytopenia, or tricytopenia nearly always require a marrow examination for diagnosis. Non-hemolytic anemia that is not readily diagnosed as iron deficiency, thalassemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, or another type of anemia defined by blood cell examination and supporting laboratory tests often requires a Bone Marrow Testing.

Abnormal cells in the blood, such as nucleated red cells, white cell precursors, abnormal lymphocytes not explained by concurrent infection, and blast cells, usually require a marrow examination. In addition to determining the cellularity and morphology of precursor cells or the presence of non-hematopoietic cells, the study provides marrow cells for immunophenotyping by cell flow analysis, for cytogenetic studies, and in special cases for marrow cell culture. Granulomatous and storage diseases may be uncovered in the marrow, and the marrow can be used to culture fastidious organisms such as fungi and mycobacteria. Searching for extranodal spread of lymphoma (staging) is another important use of Bone Marrow Testing.

History of Bone Marrow Testing

The first recorded Bone Marrow Testing in living patients occurred in the first decades of the 20th century, first using the tibia as a source and then open biopsies. Neither technique led to routine Bone Marrow Testing because in the former case the tibia usually was hypocellular in adults and in the latter case because of the invasiveness of an open procedure and the discomfort and risk of infection and bleeding.