Pre-Transplant: Bone-Marrow Harvesting

Bone-marrow harvesting is always done by a donor.  Bone marrow is extracted by the same method described in the bone marrow biopsy test earlier in this page.  However there is a significant difference between the biopsy and harvesting: In the biopsy a very small sample is all that’s required, while one to two liters are collected for harvesting and transplant.


Because the extraction of a bone marrow sample is uncomfortable, this process is conducted in the hospital under a general anesthesia.  Following the harvesting additional pain management may be required.  The donor may also need a blood transfusion if their blood counts are too low.  If neither is needed, the donor may be released a few hours after harvesting, otherwise they will probably remain as an in-patient for twenty-four hours or so.



Because this is not a transplant recipient’s test, and because the donor is under a general anesthesia during the procedure, no PAGs are included in this section.  An IV will be installed during the prep stage for administering the anesthesia, so the discomfort will be similar to that of Lab Work.