N/A. However concurrent CBC/ PBF ordering is required.
Pre-analytic Considerations
N/A
Test Ordering Instructions
Fill out test request form fully & legibly. Clinical history/ indications required inclusive of results of other diagnostic work-up. Concurrent CBC printout or CBC order required. Concurrent PBF order/ examination required for optimal hematological assessment.
Patient preparation
N/A
Sample type
Properly Prepared, Labeled, Air Dried, Fixed Smears Required. Slides Should Be Labeled With 2 Patient Identifiers, Including Name. If Slides Are Not Fixed, Label as Unfixed. If Fixation is done, This Should Be With Freshly Prepared Methanol.
Container/ preservative
Trephine Biopsy should be placed in 10% neutral Buffered Formalin. Additionally if a bone marrow aspirate (BMA) sample is concurrently obtained, BMA slides should be prepared directly. Alternatively, BMA sample can be transferred into EDTA (purple top) Vacutainer but slides must then be prepared within 1-2 hours of collection.
If additional tests are required, obtain the relevant samples & list them on the request form e.g. Flow cytometry (EDTA & heparin Vacutainer, 3ml each), Cytogenetics (Sodium Heparin Vacutainer), Culture (Bood Culture Bottles) etc.
Reference intervals
Negative for disease / Malignancy.
Clinical Utility
Variable E.g. Assess Unexplained Cytopenias (Anemia, Leukopenia, Thrombocytopenia), Unexplained Cytoses (Polycythemia, Leukocytosis, Thrombocytosis), Suspected Malignancy or Infiltration (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, Metastatic Disease), Pyrexia of Unknown Origin, Infectious Diseases (E.g. Leishmaniasis), B Symptoms (Unintentional Weight Loss, Drenching Night Sweats, Fever) Etc.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
Poor BMA Slide Preparation & Fixation Can Make BMA Unreportable; Poor Trephine Biopsy Fixation & Decalcification Can Make Biopsies Unreportable.