“Why are bone marrow tests done?”

First, this is an aspiration of bone marrow content, which contains the progenitor cells. The healthcare provider uses a thin needle to remove a small amount of liquid bone marrow, usually from a spot in your back of your pelvis (hipbone). Bone marrow has a fluid portion and a more solid portion, Bone marrow aspiration is usually combined with bone marrow biopsy. Bone marrow biopsy is a core biopsy, and the solid protion of the bone. Bone marrow biopsy procedure takes approximately 30 minutes. Sometimes is longer the preparation for the procedure than the actual procedure. Now, the purpose of a bone marrow is to diagnose a disease or condition involving the bone marrow or blood cells. It is also to determine progression of a disease, whether the iron levels are adequate, monitor the disease, and investigate fever of unknown origin. Bone marrow exam is done for anemia, blood cell conditions in which is either too few or too many of certain types of blood cells produced. These cells could be leukemic cells, leukocytosis, thrombotic cells (thrombocytopenia), Thrombocytosis (increase thrombotic cells, pancytopenia (decreased number of all marrow cells lineage), and polycythemia (increase in polymorphonuclear cells). Also, to check for cancer of the blood or bone marrow (leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myelomas). metastatic cancers (cancers that have spread to other areas such as breast and bone marrow). Thank you.

It can tell if something is wrong with your white blood cells, red blood cells. platelets, iron stores and bone, such as, do have enough, the right mix or do they look abnormal. It can tell if there are things that are not supposed to be there: bugs, fibrosis, leukemia, etc. It is an invasive procedure. They will put a fairly large needle into your hip to get a sample of bone marrow there. They will sterilize and numb the area of overlying skin and may give you medicine to relax you. Most people are conscious for this sort of procedure. Good luck.

RB Thomas, MD

Low blood cell count could be due to insufficient maturity of WBCs produced by the bone marrow. It's called myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS). Bone marrow will show too many immature cells present if the condition prevails. The procedure has minimum pain in expert hands.

Bone marrow biopsy is done for many reasons. One of the reason is to evaluate low white cell count. There are many reasons for low white cell counts. They may range from reactive conditions such as bone marrow toxicity due to for example herbal supplements, medications, nutritional deficiencies, peripheral destruction or autoimmune condition etc myelodysplastic syndrome, even leukemia or lymphoma and metastatic disease in marrow. The procedure is slightly painful and takes about 15-30 minutes. Usually there is minimal bleeding.