Bone Marrow Biopsies


  • PLEASE NOTE: For hospital patients, please contact the laboratory for technical assistance. For any other questions, please call us at 970-461-6091 during business hours or page the Pathologist On Call after hours.
  • Here are some general guidelines for these biopsies:
    • Bone marrow cores are placed in formalin based fixative.
    • A portion of the bone marrow aspirate should be placed in a green top tube(s) for possible flow cytometry and cytogenetic studies; two tubes may be necessary if multiple studies are requested. Any remaining aspirate should be placed in formalin for ‘clot sections’. Bone marrow particles for the aspirate smears are obtained from the green top tube.
    • Unstained smears are made for cytochemical studies, when indicated (acute leukemia).
    • A CBC and peripheral smear should be ordered and performed within 24 hours of the procedure.
  • Please notify the laboratory as outlined above when the specimen is ready for submission. We will ensure that the material is distributed for appropriate testing (flow cytometry at McKee, cytogenetic studies to Mayo, etc.).
  • Label the body of the container with the patient's identifying information (at least first and last name) and the site of the biopsy (be as specific as possible).
  • Place the specimen into the container as soon as possible after the time of collection and close the lid tightly.
  • Complete the Summit Pathology Surgical Pathology requisition, including the following information:
    • Patient's full name
    • Date of birth
    • Complete address
    • Medical record number (for hospital patients)
    • SSN
    • Submitting physician
    • Other physicians who should receive a copy of the report
    • Date of specimen collection
    • Appropriate clinical history, including pertinent CBC results, electrophoresis, etc.
    • ICD-9 code
    • Site of specimen (Be specific! If you want the report to state that the specimen was an posterior iliac crest biopsy rather vertebral biopsy, for example, please let us know up front)
    • Any special studies requested (cytogenetics, flow cytometry)
    • Insurance information (may be copied front and back and attached to requisition)
  • If you are in an office or surgery center, place the container in the main part of a plastic biohazard bag, and the requisition in the outside dry pouch, and notify us that the specimen is ready for pickup, as this type of specimen requires urgent handling.
  • If you are in a hospital, notify the laboratory or on-duty pathologist in the laboratory that the specimen is ready for pickup.