Bone marrow is the soft tissue found inside bones. It’s of critical importance in diagnostics, clinical research, and drug discovery projects. Like other medical specimens, bone marrow samples are subject to sensitive transportation and delivery protocols. To ensure the viability of the samples, it’s essential to choose a delivery company with experience providing lab courier services and with a track record of timely, reliable deliveries.
Prepare the shipment as directed by the lab.
Different labs may have slightly different requirements regarding the preparation, labeling, and shipping of certain types of specimens. For instance, a lab might require a certain number of core biopsies and/or aspirate clots to be sent. You should also ensure the paperwork is in order. The lab may require you to provide advanced, written notice that a specimen is on its way.
Exercise caution when preparing smears and imprints.
The quality of marrow smears and imprints is crucial for an accurate assessment, particularly when the bone marrow specimen is being sent to the lab for the purpose of disease detection. If the specimen is improperly prepared, it can be difficult for the hematopathologist to detect the subtle myelodysplastic changes and blasts. Smears and imprints are also the types of specimens that are most easily damaged. To reduce the risk of corruption, follow these steps:
- Aspirate and immediately place a drop of non-anticoagulated bone marrow on a sterile glass slide.
- Allow to quickly air dry. Do not use a fixative.
- Do not allow unstained smears to come into contact with formalin.
This last point is particularly crucial. Some labs require core bone biopsies to be shipped in the same container as air-dried smears and imprints. This raises the possibility of formalin fume leakage. You can guard against this by completely sealing the formalin bottles in the plastic bag provided in the specimen kit.
When sensitive specimens require timely delivery, you can count on the professional drivers at Xcel Delivery Services. We’ll work with you to develop a solution that gets your shipments to their destinations on time and within budget. You can contact our office in Tucson at (520) 355-4897 to request information about our lab courier services.
