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Office of Animal Care and Use

Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee

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Phone: (919) 966-5569
Fax: (919) 966-8429
CB 7193
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7193
iacuc@med.unc.edu

Blood Withdrawal in Other Animal Species

Revised October 23, 2003

General Guidelines

Each laboratory must designate a "Laboratory Coordinator" who will be responsible for training research personnel in the laboratory in various animal-handling techniques such as blood collection. The Laboratory Coordinator must first be certified by the IACUC or DLAM and demonstrate proficiency in various techniques. The Laboratory Coordinator must contact the IACUC office at 966-5569 to register for training classes.

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Cardiac Puncture

Cardiac puncture as a method of blood withdrawal is permitted in all species as long as the two following conditions are met:

  1. Animal is under a surgical plane of anesthesia when procedure is conducted
  2. The cardiac puncture is a terminal procedure and the animal is not allowed to recover from anesthesia following the puncture
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Toenail Bleeding

In dogs, toenail bleeding must be accompanied by some form of analgesia as this is considered a painful procedure.

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Central Auricular Artery in Rabbits

The central auricular artery is the preferred vessel from which to obtain blood in rabbits. To dilate the vessel the following methods can be used.

  1. Acepromazine administered by intravenous injection 1 mg/10 lb.
  2. 2% Nitroglycerin ointment applied directly over the vessel.
  3. Xylene (only as a last resort and with scientific justification). Thoroughly remove with alcohol after use.
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