What Do Bone Marrow Tests Show?

Bone marrow tests show whether your bone marrow is making enough healthy blood cells. If it's not, the results can tell your doctor which cells are unhealthy and why.

Bone marrow tests are an important tool. They're used to diagnose a variety of blood and bone marrow disorders, including anemia and certain kinds of cancer. They're also used to find out how serious a cancer is and how much it has spread to other areas of the body. Bone marrow tests also help doctors determine the cause of fevers and infections.

Your doctor combines information from your bone marrow test with information from a physical exam, blood tests, and other tests such as imaging scans and x rays. This information helps your doctor diagnose your condition and plan how to treat it.