What is a bone marrow biopsy?
A bone marrow biopsy is a procedure for removing a sample of tissue from the center of a bone for lab tests. Bone marrow is spongy tissue in the center of bones. It produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and clotting cells called platelets. The test results show whether the various types of blood cells are present in normal amounts and are developing normally. Too many or too few of certain types of cells may indicate specific diseases. The test also gives information on some blood functions, such as clotting.
