Parafin and Plastic Techniques for Preparation of Bone Marrow Specimen

Karen Noe, B.S., HTL (ASCP)
Muhlenberg Regional Medical center
Plainfield, NJ 07060

Handling of Bone Marrow

Aspirated Marrow Units:

1. On the floor, about 5ml of marrow aspirate is placed into lavender top B-D vacutainer containing 0.07 ml 15% EDTA and mix the contents quickly and thoroughly.
2. After arriving in the laboratory, the contents of the B-D tube are then filtered through either templefiber or Histowrap recovering only units.
3. The units are wrapped in templefiber or Histowrap and placed in a bottle containing working B-5 Fixative. The units are fixed for 1 hour.
4. The wrapped units are placed in a plastic processing cassette (do not use metal) and stored in 70% ethyl alcohol until processing.

Needle Biopsy of the Marrow:

1. On the floor the biopsy material is placed in a bottle working B-5 fixative.
2. After arriving in the laboratory, the biopsy is fixed in a minimum of 30 minutes; 1 hour preferable.
3. After fixation, rinse the biopsy in tap water.
4. The specimen is placed in RDO decalcifying solution for 15-30 minutes.
5. When the decalcification is completed, the specimen is wrapped in lens paper, placed in a plastic bag processing cassette (no metal) and washed in running tap water for 30 minutes.
6. Process as usual