blood withdrawn from rats - (Dec/14/2005 )

what is the best way to get blood sample ( 500 microl. at most for blood tests ) from rat - rat should be alive thereafter.

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Take a sample from the tail. There's a large vein running down it that's quite easy to hit. Alternatively, you can take a blood sample from the venous plexus behind the eye. Insert a capillary tube into the medial canthus and take the blood from there. IMO, this is better for mice as the murine tail vein is much smaller.

Both methods should be carried out on anaesthetised animals and when performed correctly leave the animal alive and well.

Neither should done without suitable instruction and training. If you have to ask what the best method is, then you need someone to show you. Make sure you comply with your insitute's animal ethics policy. If in doubt, ask your supervisor.

Hope this helps.

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Thanks

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