Hi everyone,

 

I'm interested in knowing how other facilities deal with bone marrow specimens/processing.  A few specific questions I have:

 

1.  What department is responsible for creating bone marrow slides?

2.  What department is responsible for staining bone marrow slides and what stain is used?

3.  What is your hematology department's role in bone marrow processing?

4.  Does your hematology department perform bone marrow differentials (med techs) or are these done by someone else (who?)?

 

Any information you could provide would be very helpful.  Thank you!

We are a 280 bed acute care hospital that serves a fair number of oncologists.

 

Associates from the hematology dept are responsible for assisting in the collection and processing of bone marrows, including staining (Wright-Giemsa works fine) and sending out reference lab tests. 

 

Only certain techs are proficient in doing the differentials. Our Cytology dept does an iron stain and slices and processes the clot and/or biopsy specimens.

 

Scott

At Northside Hopsital, the Hematology techs assist with the collection and processing of the bone marrows. We also have a Laboratory Assistant who works full-time in Bone Marrow.

The technologists also read the bone marrows and report differential, M:E ratio, megakaryocyte estimation and any other condition observed, such as increased mast cells or marrow iron. The techs on day and evening shift are trained to do marrows.

We get a lot of outpatient specimens in the late afternoon and evening.

We use Wricht-Giemsa stain on a Midas stainer.

We have a very active bone marrow transplant program and are up to 2500 marrows so far this year.

Sue Osier