Bone Marrow Tests: Understanding Procedures & Results

Bone marrow is the soft, sponge-like tissue inside of bones that produces red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Bone marrow tests involve the removal of a small sample of bone marrow for examination.

Function

• Physicians frequently order bone marrow tests to determine whether cancerous cells exist in the bone marrow. These tests are often used to diagnose leukemia, lymphoma, thrombocytopenia, myelofibrosis and anemia.

Types

• A bone marrow aspiration test involves using a syringe to extract liquid bone marrow. A bone marrow biopsy requires removing a small core of intact bone marrow with a large needle.

Features

• Both types of bone marrow tests typically involve extracting bone marrow samples from a patient's hip bone. Bone marrow aspirations can also be taken from the sternum, which is the breast bone.

Normal Results

• Normal blood marrow results contain healthy amounts of connective tissues, fat cells and hematopoietic cells, which are the blood-forming cells.

Abnormal Results

• Abnormal results typically include too few red blood cells, too few platelets or abnormal white blood cells. Doctors use these abnormal results to decide which type of treatment will be most effective for the patient's condition.

Time Frame

• A bone marrow sample is immediately sent to the medical lab for testing. Patients typically receive the results within 2 days.