To prevent severe biopsy damage when temperatures are below freezing, we recommend adding 1:10 ratio of isopropyl alcohol (70% or greater) to 10% neutral buffered formalin.
Specimen
Bone marrow needle cores should be taken from the proximal humerus with a 11-to-13-gauge Jamshidi needle 3 to 4 inches long. Submit samples in 10% neutral buffered formalin in an approved biopsy container. Always ship formalin containers separately from cytology slides and other samples.
Test Description
This test examines bone marrow for patients with hematopoietic abnormalities. Submit biopsies of marrow in formalin. For best results, a CBC should be submitted simultaneously — this gives the clinical pathologist a more complete view of the hematopoietic system and can help pinpoint disease. A detailed history and time course of events will further aid the clinical pathologist in interpreting the findings.
For patients with suspected osteomyelitis or tumors of bone, submit biopsies in formalin (or complete limbs dampened with saline) and refrigerated using the standard biopsy FBX test code.