Diagnostic cytology of bone marrow in dogs and cats: 1. Indication and procedure of sample collection

Non-regenerative anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia of longer durati on, suspected leukaemia, myeloma or an infiltration with lymphoma cells and cells of a non-haematopoietic tumour are some of the manifold indications for a diagnostic bone marrow cytology. Furthermore, diagnostic bone marrow cytology should be used for the detection of parasites (e.g. leishmania org anisms) and for special staining techniques. Bone marrow is usually collect ed from the iliac crest in the non-sedated animal. Spinal needles are parti cularly useful in addition to various cannulas especially manufactured for this purpose. The correct examination and interpretation requires a smear c ontaining marrow fragments. This can be obtained by separating the fragment s from the marrow blood in bone marrow mixed with EDTA. The air-dried smear s are stained with panoptic (e.g., according to Pappenheim) or special stai ning procedures. For dispatch to specialized laboratories the bone marrow s mears should be unstained.