ASSISTING IN

BONE MARROW
ASPIRATION AND
BIOPSY
 DEFINITION

A specimen of bone marrow (major site of blood cell

formation) may be obtained by aspiration or needle
biopsy performed by a physician. The procedure
allows evaluation of overall blood composition by
studying blood elements and precursors cells as
well as abnormal or malignant cells.
1. Aspirate aid in diagn o sin g
various disorder s an d
cancers, such as o at cell
carcin o m a, leukem ia, an d
such lymphomas as
Hodgkin's diseas e . RATIONALE
2 . Biopsies are often
performed simultan eo us ly
to stage th e disease an d
monitor respons e to
treatment
 FOR ASPIRATION

EQUIPMENT
FOR OTHER EQUIPMENT REFER TO YOUR MANUAL

STERIL E DRAPES BONE MARROW NEEDLE

 FOR BIOPSY

EQUIPMENT
FOR OTHER EQUIPMENT REFER TO YOUR MANUAL

ZENKER' S FIXATIVE VIM-SIL V ERM AN BIOPSY NEEDLE

 FOR BIOPSY

EQUIPMENT
FOR OTHER EQUIPMENT REFER TO YOUR MANUAL

JAMSHIDI BIOPSY NEEDLE ILLINOIS STERNAL BIOPSY NEEDLE

 PLANNING
AND
IMPLEMENTATION
1. Explain the procedur e to
th e patien t. In fo rm th e
patient that the pro cedur e
norm ally take 5 to 10
m in utes.

2. Ensure that the con s en t

fo rm h as been sign ed.

3. Pro v ide a sedativ e as

ordered before the tes t.
4 . Position the patient acco r din g
to th e selected pun cture site.
P OSTERIOR SUPERIOR ILIAC
CREST:

AN TERIOR ILIAC CREST :

STE RNUM:
5. Using sterile technique, the puncture
site is cleaned with povidone-iodine
pads and allowed to dry; then the area
is draped.

6. Assist the physician administration of

1% lidocaine

7. After allowing about 1 minute for the

lidocaine to take effect, a scapel may
be used to make a small stab incision
on the patient’s skin to accommodate
the bone marrow needle
8. Bone marrow aspiration:
9. Bone marrow biopsy:
 SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION
• Faulty needle placement may yield too little aspirate. If no specimen
is produced, the needle must be withdrawn from the bone (but not
from overlying soft tissue), the stylet replaced, and the needle
inserted into a second site within the anesthetized field.
• Bone marrow specimen should not be collected from irradiated areas
• Bleeding and infection are potentially life threatening complication of
aspiration or biopsy at any site.
• If hematoma occurs around the puncture site, apply warm soaks. Give
analgesics for site and tenderness.
 DOCUMENTATION

• Chart the time, date, and location of the procedure done.

• Document the patient’s tolerance of the procedure.
• Label the specimen obtained correctly.
 REFERENCES

Manual of Nursing Procedures, A Compilation (Revised 2019)

USLS College of Nursing.