Bone Marrow Aspirates and Cores

Useful For

Morphological evaluation of bone marrow is part of the diagnostic workup for suspected hematologic pathology

Method Name

Histology

Important Note

Prior arrangements must be made by contacting the Pathology Office at 518-926-3836 or 518-926-3837 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday. The specimen will be collected and handled bedside by a laboratory staff member.

Aliases

Bone Marrow Aspirates And Cores, Bone Marrow Biopsy, Surgical Pathology, Histology, Hematopathology

Specimen Type

Bone marrow

Specimen Required

Bone marrow aspirate clot and/or biopsy, bone marrow aspirate smears, and peripheral blood smears

Specimen Minimum Volume

  • Integrated Oncology specimens minimum volume: 2mL bone marrow or blood
  • Quest Diagnostics specimens minimum volume: 1 mL bone marrow in a sodium heparin (green-top) and 0.5 mL bone marrow in an EDTA (lavender-top)

Specimen Stability Information

Bone marrow or clot biopsy

  • Room temperature: Indefinite
  • Refrigerated: Unacceptable
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue

  • Room temperature: Indefinite
  • Refrigerated: Unacceptable
  • Frozen: Not established

Rejected Due To

  • Received refrigerated
  • Received frozen
  • Decalcified

Performing Laboratory

Bone marrow specimens are sent to Integrated Oncology  reference laboratory.

  • Exception: for patients with BlueShield of Northeastern New York health insurance only, bone marrow specimens will be sent to Quest Diagnostics reference laboratory.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

  • Bone marrow specimens must be received in the laboratory no later than 2:00 p.m. to ensure it is handled and shipped timely via courier to the reference laboratory on the same day

Analytical Time

Expected turn around time:

Integrated Oncology:

  • Cytogenetics: 10 business days
  • Flow Cytometry: 2 business days
  • Morphologic Evaluation: 8 business days

Quest:

  • Flow Cytometry: 7-8 business days
  • For expected turn around times for Quest Diagnostics Hematopathology Consult, Cytogenetics, or other hematopathology reports, please contact them at this link: Quest Diagnostics

Specimen Retention Time

The specimens are retained by the appropriate reference laboratory.  The reference laboratories can be reached at the links below:

Reflex Tests

Comprehensive diagnostic and/or prognostic hematopathology analysis is structured to allow the reference laboratory pathologists to select testing based on medical necessity and clinical information provided. Additional prognostic studies per the reference laboratory’s reflex criteria may be requested with comprehensive diagnostic hematopathology analysis.

CPT Code Information

For CPT code information please contact:

Integrated Oncology

Quest Diagnostics

Analytical Time

Expected turn around time:

Integrated Oncology:

  • Cytogenetics: 10 business days
  • Flow Cytometry: 2 business days
  • Morphologic Evaluation: 8 business days

Quest:

  • Flow Cytometry: 7-8 business days
  • For expected turn around times for Quest Diagnostics Hematopathology Consult, Cytogenetics, or other hematopathology reports, please contact them at this link: Quest Diagnostics