What type of preparation is preferred for bone marrow aspirates?

a. Coverslip smears from a bone marrow fragment called a spicule
b. Wedge smears made from the blood surrounding marrow fragments
c. Touch preps from rolling the biopsy on a glass slide
d. Smears of the biopsy made with an automated slide maker

ANS: A
Coverslip smears from a bone marrow spicule are the preferred type of preparation for bone marrow aspirates. The advantage to them over slides is that less trauma occurs to the cells because they weigh so much less (relatively speaking). If done correctly, then a good monolayer of cells in the marrow can be stained and then evaluated.