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Blood Collection
Publication Name:
Current Protocols in Immunology
Unit Number:
Unit 1.7
DOI:
10.1002/0471142735.im0107s73
Online Posting Date:
July, 2006 Abstract
Blood is most frequently sampled for evaluation of serum antibodies or analysis of surface markers on peripheral blood cells. The protocols offered in this unit describe collection of blood from the orbital sinus or plexus of the mouse, rat, or hamster. With appropriate techniques, small amounts of blood can be obtained with little ill effect on the animal. Collection from the auricular vein or artery of the rabbit is also relatively unstressful to the animal. Bleeding procedures that should be performed on the anesthetized animal include collection from the mouse axillary plexus, cardiac puncture of the mouse, rat, hamster, or rabbit, and collection from the hamster abdominal aorta or vena cava.
Table of Contents
- Unit Introduction
- Basic Protocol 1: Blood Collection from Orbital Sinus or Plexus of Mouse and Rat
- Basic Protocol 2: Blood Collection from Tail Vein of Mouse and Rat Using Microhematocrit Tube
- Alternate Protocol: Blood Collection from Tail Vein of Mouse and Rat Using Centrifuge Tube
- Basic Protocol 3: Blood Collection from Axillary Plexus of Mouse
- Basic Protocol 4: Cardiac Puncture of Mouse and Rat
- Basic Protocol 5: Blood Collection from Hamster Orbital Sinus
- Basic Protocol 6: Cardiac Puncture of Hamster
- Basic Protocol 7: Blood Collection from Hamster Abdominal Aorta/Vena Cava
- Basic Protocol 8: Blood Collection from Marginal Ear Vein of Rabbit
- Basic Protocol 9: Blood Collection from Auricular Artery of Rabbit
- Basic Protocol 10: Cardiac Puncture of Rabbit
- Basic Protocol 11: Blood Collection from the Saphenous Vein of Mouse, Rat, and Hamster
- Basic Protocol 12: Blood Collection from the Facial Vein of the Mouse
- Commentary
- Literature Cited
- Figures
- Tables
Materials
Basic Protocol 1: Blood Collection from Orbital Sinus or Plexus of Mouse and Rat
Materials
- Sterile saline or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; appendix
- Microhematocrit tube
- Gauze sponge or swab
- Additional reagents and equipment for handling and restraint (unit
Basic Protocol 2: Blood Collection from Tail Vein of Mouse and Rat Using Microhematocrit Tube
Materials
- Heat lamp or beaker containing warm water
- 25- to 30-G needle
- Microhematocrit tube
- Gauze sponge
- Additional reagents and equipment for handling and restraint (unit
Alternate Protocol: Blood Collection from Tail Vein of Mouse and Rat Using Centrifuge Tube
Additional Materials (also see Basic Protocol 2 )
- Scalpel blade (#10)
- 12- to 50-ml plastic centrifuge tube
Basic Protocol 3: Blood Collection from Axillary Plexus of Mouse
Materials
- Surgical board
- Scalpel or razor blade
- Thumb forceps
- Surgical scissors
- Additional reagents and equipment for anesthesia (unit
Basic Protocol 4: Cardiac Puncture of Mouse and Rat
Materials
- 1- to 3-ml syringe (mouse) or 3- to 10-ml syringe (rat), with 20- to 22-G needle
- Additional reagents and equipment for anesthesia (unit
Basic Protocol 5: Blood Collection from Hamster Orbital Sinus
Materials
- Microhematocrit tube or Pasteur pipet
- 12- to 15-ml centrifuge tube
- Additional reagents and equipment for anesthesia (unit
Basic Protocol 6: Cardiac Puncture of Hamster
Materials
- 1-ml syringe with 23-G needle
- Additional reagents and equipment for anesthesia (unit
Basic Protocol 7: Blood Collection from Hamster Abdominal Aorta/Vena Cava
Materials
- #10 scalpel blade with handle
- 5-ml syringe with 23- to 25-G needle
- Additional reagents and equipment for anesthesia (unit
Basic Protocol 8: Blood Collection from Marginal Ear Vein of Rabbit
Materials
- 70% ethanol
- 40% solution d-limonene in 95% ethanol
- Gauze sponge or swab
- Scalpel blade
- 12- to 50-ml centrifuge tube
- Additional reagents and equipment for handling and restraint (unit
Basic Protocol 9: Blood Collection from Auricular Artery of Rabbit
Materials
- 70% ethanol
- Gauze sponge or swab
- 5- to 60-ml syringe with 21- to 22-G butterfly infusion set
- Additional reagents and equipment for handling and restraint (unit
Basic Protocol 10: Cardiac Puncture of Rabbit
Materials
- Ketamine/xylazine solution (unit
- 70% ethanol
- Gauze sponge or swab
- 5- to 60-ml syringe with 18- to 25-G, 1.5-in. needle
Basic Protocol 11: Blood Collection from the Saphenous Vein of Mouse, Rat, and Hamster
Materials
- 50-ml polypropylene conical centrifuge tubes
- Towel
- 20- to 22-G needle
- Microhematocrit tube
- Gauze sponge
Basic Protocol 12: Blood Collection from the Facial Vein of the Mouse
Materials
- GoldenRod animal lancet (MEDIpoint; http://www.medipoint.com) or 18- to 22-G needle
- Capillary blood collection tube
- Gauze sponge
Looking for materials? Suppliers Guide
Figures
-
Figure 1.7.1Blood collection from the orbital sinus or plexus of the mouse and rat. -
Figure 1.7.2Blood collection from the tail vein of the mouse and rat. -
Figure 1.7.3Blood collection from the axillary plexus of the mouse. -
Figure 1.7.4Cardiac puncture of the mouse and rat. -
Figure 1.7.5Blood collection from the auricular artery of the rabbit. -
Figure 1.7.6Cardiac puncture of the rabbit.
Literature Cited
| Literature Cited | |
| Gay, W.I. 1986. Methods of Animal Experimentation, Vol. VII, pp. 31-65. Academic Press, San Diego. | |
| Tuffery, A.A. 1987. Lab Animals: An Introduction for New Experimenters, p. 248. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, England. | |
| Key References | |
| Hem, A., Smith, A.J., and Soberg, P. 1998. Saphenous vein puncture for blood sampling of the mouse, rat, hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, ferret, and mink. Lab. Anim. 32:364-368. http://www.lal.org.uk/pdffiles/LAB1607.PDF. | |
| Expanded description of blood collection from saphenous vein. | |
| Manning, P.J., Ringler, D.H., and Newcomer, C.E. (eds.) 1994. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit, 2nd ed., ACLAM Series. pp. 73-74. Academic Press, San Diego. | |
| Additional details for rabbit blood and collection methods. | |
| Van Hoosier, G.L. and MacPherson, C.W. 1987. Laboratory Hamsters, pp. 75-76. Academic Press, Orlando, Fla. | |
| Detailed description of hamster orbital sinus blood collection. | |
| Internet Resources | |
| http://www.uib.no/vivariet/mou_blood/Blood_coll_mice_.html | |
| Provides detailed description and illustrations of saphenous blood collection. | |
| http://www.medipoint.com/html/animal_lancets.html | |
| Depicts animal lancet use and anatomical landmarks for facial vein blood collection. | |
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