Bone Marrow Test

It becomes necessary at times to examine the bone marrow. In adults, the sample is usually taken from the pelvic bone and in infants and small children from the tibia bone below the knee. This is a simple, outpatient procedure. Patients lay on the exam table, and the skin over the pelvic bony prominence in the back is numbed with a medicine. The bone marrow needle is then inserted into the bone.

This procedure, although not completely pain-free, is very well tolerated. The fear of this procedure is worse than the procedure itself, which, in experienced hands, takes less than five minutes. Patients may experience some discomfort during the process; however, virtually no pain or problems afterwards. With the needle in the bone, two kinds of samples are obtained:

1. Bone marrow aspirate uses a syringe with the bone marrow needle and suctions a very small amount of liquid mixed with blood.

2. Bone marrow biopsy takes a sample of the pelvic bone itself, using a Jamshidi bone marrow needle.

The samples are then sent to the laboratory where they are studied.