Which of the following is not an indication for a bone marrow examination?

The situation described focuses on a specific requirement for bone marrow examinations, which are typically performed to assess various hematological disorders. In the context of the provided options, anemia with low serum iron and ferritin levels primarily suggests an iron deficiency state rather than an issue that would necessitate a bone marrow evaluation.

Low serum iron and ferritin indicate that there is not enough iron available for red blood cell production, which is usually manageable through clinical evaluation, dietary changes, or supplementation. Such anemia can be diagnosed through simpler blood tests that measure iron levels rather than a more invasive procedure like a bone marrow examination.

In contrast, pancytopenia, the detection of blasts in peripheral blood, and the need for staging in cases of Hodgkin lymphoma are all critical scenarios where a bone marrow exam can provide significant clinical information. Pancytopenia can indicate bone marrow suppression or infiltration, detecting blasts can help diagnose acute leukemias, and staging Hodgkin lymphoma often requires marrow examinations to determine the extent of disease spread.

Thus, while different hematological issues may prompt a bone marrow evaluation, anemia driven specifically by low iron and ferritin levels is not among the indications that would justify undergoing such a procedure.