ABSTRACT
Purpose: The document outlines the preferred methods for collecting blood from laboratory animals and blood collection volume and frequency limits. Blood collection for experimental purposes must comply with researchers of the Drug research institute (DRI) approved protocol, including approved collection techniques, volumes, and frequencies. The Department of Pharmacology researchers train investigators in various collection techniques. The researcher may collect blood for veterinary care purposes using accepted clinical techniques ensuring volumes collected do not adversely affect animal health. Blood Collection Limits: The DRI limits one time survival blood collection to 7.5% of an animal’s blood volume in most circumstances. Serial blood sampling limit vary by species, strain and frequency of blood collection. The DRI may require monitoring for anemia (using assays such as hematocrit and/or serum protein levels) when repeated collection of larger volumes are required. Blood collected for diagnostics or other veterinary procedures must be considered when evaluating total volume available for experimental use. In all cases blood collection volumes should be limited to the minimum volume that will allow for successful experimentation or diagnostics.