Bone Marrow Tests
Reviewed
Bone marrow tests remove a sample of your bone marrow and bone, usually from the back of your hip, to examine under a microscope and test for signs of disease. They help find out whether your bone marrow is working well to make normal amounts of healthy blood cells and can help diagnose and monitor bone marrow disorders, blood disorders, and certain types of cancer.
Preparation and collection
You may need to stop taking certain medicines before this test. Tell your provider about everything you take. Do not stop taking any medicines unless your provider tells you to. Tell your provider if you have a bleeding disorder. You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for a few hours before the procedure. Plan to have someone take you home after the test because you may be drowsy if you are given medicine to relax or sleep.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- After the test you may feel stiff or sore where the sample was taken, which usually goes away in a few days.
- Serious symptoms are very rare but may include increased pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, or fluid leaking from the needle site, or fever. If you have any of these, call your provider.
- Certain pain relievers, such as aspirin, could increase your risk of bleeding.
What to do next
Your provider can explain what your results mean. If results are not normal, you may need more tests to confirm a diagnosis or to decide which treatment would be best for you.