Reasons for Bone Marrow Test

Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside some of the bones in the body. As bone marrow creates the blood cells in the body, it holds a lot of information on blood-related illnesses. A test can be done by inserting a thin needle into the bone marrow to remove some cells or a piece of the tissue can be removed.

Diagnose Conditions

• A doctor will require a bone marrow test when a presumed illness needs to be confirmed or to find a specific condition. It is normally done when abnormal types or numbers of red or white blood cells are found.

Assess Stage of Condition

• If a condition has been diagnosed the doctor will use the results from the bone marrow tests to establish how advanced the condition is.

Monitor Treatment of Condition

• During the treatment process the doctor will conduct follow-up tests to monitor the success of the therapy. A bone marrow test is used for a variety of cancer treatments, including leukemia.

Anemia

• People who are anemic don't have enough red blood cells. In some people, this condition can't be diagnosed correctly without a bone marrow biopsy.

Transplants

• Family members or other donors can donate bone marrow to patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. In order to establish if the donor's bone marrow is suitable, a test needs to be done beforehand.