Bone Marrow Test: Understanding Reasons, Procedure & Diagnosis

Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside some of the bones in the body. As bone marrow creates the blood cells in the body, it holds a lot of information on blood-related illnesses. A test can be done by inserting a thin needle into the bone marrow to remove some cells or a piece of the tissue can be removed.

Diagnose Conditions

• A doctor will require a bone marrow test when a presumed illness needs to be confirmed or to find a specific condition. It is normally done when abnormal types or numbers of red or white blood cells are found.

Assess Stage of Condition

• If a condition has been diagnosed the doctor will use the results from the bone marrow tests to establish how advanced the condition is.

Monitor Treatment of Condition

• During the treatment process the doctor will conduct follow-up tests to monitor the success of the therapy. A bone marrow test is used for a variety of cancer treatments, including leukemia.

Anemia

• People who are anemic don't have enough red blood cells. In some people, this condition can't be diagnosed correctly without a bone marrow biopsy.

Transplants

• Family members or other donors can donate bone marrow to patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. In order to establish if the donor's bone marrow is suitable, a test needs to be done beforehand.