Mycobacterial culture of bone marrow

Alternative names:

culture - mycobacterial of bone marrow

How the test is performed:

A bone marrow aspiration or biopsy is performed. A sample of bone marrow is placed in a culture media specific for the tuberculosis bacterium and examined for growth at routine intervals.

How to prepare for the test:

You must sign an informed consent form. It is important to remain as still as possible during the test. There is no other special preparation.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

• infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the test will feel:

The skin over the biopsy or aspiration site (usually the back of the hip or the sternum) will be cleansed. An anesthetic will be injected into the skin surrounding the site to numb the site. Even with the anesthetic, there may be pain or pressure as the bone marrow is removed.

Why the test is performed:

The test is performed if infection of the bone marrow with tuberculosis is suspected.