For Taking Blood Samples from
small animals
*Always Use the Shortest Point Possible To Draw the Amount of Blood You Need
YOU CAN USE THE SUPERFICIAL TEMPORAL VEIN OR THE SAPHENOUS VEIN
For Use on Rats
Below Is a Recommended Point Length Chart for Rats and Various Other Animals
POINT LENGTHS*
MICE
3 MM - FOR ONLY 1 OR 2 DROPS
4 MM - UNDER 2 MONTHS
5 MM - 2 TO 6 MONTHS
5.5 MM - OVER 6 MONTHS
RATS
5.5 MM OR 6 MM - UNDER 3 MONTHS
6 MM OR 7 MM-3 TO 4 MONTHS
7 MM OR 8 MM - OVER 5 MONTHS
CHICKENS - 4 MM
PIGS - 5 MM
PRIMATES - 3 MM OR 4 MM
TATTOO IDENTIFICATION - 3 MM
To Draw Blood from the Superficial Temporal Vein, see the Video Below.
We thank John Arzadone, LVT, LAT for the Video Below, and his work in developing techniques for using Goldenrod Animal Lancets to draw blood from rats.
Saphenous Vein Blood Draw
Goldenrod Animal Lancets also work very well drawing blood from the Saphenous Vein of Rats and Guinea Pigs. Goldenrod lancets are better and less expensive than a hypodermic needle. We recommend using the 5mm point length.
MEDIpoint thanks Stender RN, Engler WJP, Braun TM, and Hankenson FC for their work in using Goldenrod Animal Lancets on rats and the information and pictures on this page. For more information please see their article, “Establishment of Blood Analyte Intervals for Laboratory Mice and Rats by Use of a Portable Clinical Analyzer. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 46(3): 47-52, 2007.
How to Draw Blood from the Saphenous Vein of Rats & Guinea Pigs Using A Goldenrod Animal Lancet
Unanesthetized rats can be manually restrained for access to the saphenous vessel.
One rear leg is isolated and a scalpel blade used to bluntly remove hair over the vessel.
A small amount of Puralube ® ointment is applied topically prior to pricking the vein with a 3mm MEDIpoint Goldenrod Animal Lancet (Fig 1). The Puralube ointment allows the blood drop to remain localized and away from the skin and hair on the leg (Fig 2).
Approximately 4 - 5 drops of whole blood (~100 µl) can then be directly collected into a collection tube, prior to sample analysis (Fig 3).
Blood flow can be stopped at any time by applying a compress to the site for a few moments.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
