Collecting Bone Marrow Specimens
- Bone Marrow Interpretation:
Please submit the following:
- 6 unstained , unfixed air dried slides
- any remaining aspirate specimen in a lavender topped, EDTA tube
- if obtained, the bone marrow biopsy in appropriate fixative
- 2 unstained air dried smears from peripheral blood
- 1 lavender topped, EDTA tube for a CBC and additional smears if required. Note: if recent CBC results are available, these results can be submitted as well
- complete patient / clinical history
B. Flow Cytometry
If submitting specimens for both bone marrow interpretation and Flow Cytometry: As listed above plus 1 sodium heparin tube with a minimum of 1 ml of specimen. If submitting specimens for only flow cytometry, or only flow cytometry and cytogenetics: 1 sodium heparin tube with 3 ml of specimen for each study (see NOTE) and 2 unstained unfixed bone marrow slides
C. Cytogenetics
If submitting specimens for both bone marrow interpretation and Cytogenetics: As listed under Bone Marrow Interpretation plus 1 sodium heparin tube with 3 ml of specimen for each study (see NOTE). If submitting specimen for only cytogenetics, or only cytogenetics and flow cytometry: 1 sodium heparin tube with 3 ml of specimen for each study (see NOTE) and 2 unstained unfixed bone marrow slides.
NOTE: Two (2) tubes are optimal if both flow cytometry and cytogenetic studies are requested. However, one (1) tube is acceptable if the collection is minimal. PLEASE CLEARLY INDICATE THAT ONLY ONE TUBE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.
Special packaging and request forms are supplied along with each transport kit. If you have any questions regarding collection, processing, or transport, please call GML Client Services at 1-800-695-6491.
Reviewed: 5/24/2007
