Bone Marrow (Aspirate) with Procedure Test

Bone marrow aspiration is a process where the sample of the soft tissues of the bones is examined. The human body has a spongy tissue inside the bones known as bone marrow. It is the bone marrow that produces white blood cells, red blood cells platelets inside the larger bones. The procedure of bone marrow aspirate takes merely 10 minutes. However, it is preparation and post-procedure that takes time. The procedure can be conducted at a hospital or a clinic. A haematologist or an oncologist conducts the test. Doctors order for the testing when preliminary blood tests show low levels of white blood cells or red blood cells or platelets.

The process is conducted on the outpatient basis. Before undergoing the bone marrow aspirate procedure, there is couple of checklist points that a patient must know- It is always advisable to let your doctor know the medicines you take. A patient is given local anaesthesia to the part of the aspiration to be conducted. The area is numb, and the pains related to it are not felt. A patient can witness the entire procedure without pain hence. Before which blood pressure and heart rates are checked.

If the anxiety of the procedure bothers the blood pressure level or heart rates, there are chances that partial sedation or complete sedation may be done. Bone marrow fluid is usually conducted on the top ridge of the back of the hip bone. Therefore the patient is asked to lie on the abdomen or side angle.

The test is used for the treatment and diagnosis of the following-

• To investigate myelofibrosis or myelodysplastic syndrome.
• To investigate the blood cell conditions of patients suffering from leukopenia or polycythemia.
• To treat the cancerous growth in the bone marrow or blood diseases like leukaemia or lymphoma. It helps the doctor know if the cancerous cells have spread to the bones.

The area where the bone marrow fluid and tissue sample to be collected is cleaned and marked. Except for the area to be aspirated, the entire body is covered with cloth. To conduct bone marrow aspiration, the doctor makes a small incision. After doing so, a hollow needle is inserted through the bone and finally to the bone marrow. The needle is attached to a syringe; the sample of the liquid is collected in the tube hence. After the procedure is done, the area's bleeding is stopped by applying pressure and bandaging the area.