INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (IACUC)

BLOOD COLLECTION: THE MOUSE

General guidelines:
The acceptable quantity and frequency of blood sampling is determined by the circulating blood volume
and the red blood cell (RBC) turnover rate. !cessive blood collection may result in hypovolemic shoc"#
physiological stress and even death.
$or optimal health# blood dra%s should be limited to the lo%er end of the range. &a!imum blood
volumes should be ta"en only from healthy animals (').
The appro!imate blood volume of a mouse is (()*+ ,l-g. $or a ./ g mouse this is equivalent to '.0)..+
ml (.#1).
Single sample: 2ithout fluid replacement# the ma!imum blood volume %hich can be safely removed for
a one time sample is '+3 of the total blood volume or (.()* ,l-g. $or a ./ g mouse# this is equivalent to
'01).++ ,l. 2ith fluid replacement# up to '/3 of the total blood volume or '. ,l-g can be removed. $or
a ./ g mouse this is equivalent to 1++ ,l. Generally# fluid replacement should be %armed and given
subcutaneously (').
Multiple samples: 4f it is necessary to ta"e multiple samples# smaller blood volumes should be dra%n.
The ma!imum blood volume that may be dra%n per %ee" is no more than (./3 of the total blood
volume or 5 ,l-g. $or a ./ g mouse# this is equivalent to '6/)'/+ ,l per %ee". 4f sampling %ill occur
every . %ee"s# up to '+3 of the total blood volume may be dra%n or * ,l-g (6). $or a ./ g mouse# this
is equivalent to .++ ,l every . %ee"s. $or repeated blood collection# fluid replacement does not allo%
for a larger blood volume or more frequent blood collection.
Exsanguination: 7ppro!imately half of the total blood volume can be collected at e!sanguination. This
is equivalent to 6+ ,l-g or appro!imately ' ml for a ./ g mouse (').
Ta"e into account the total blood volume yielded from the chosen blood collection technique %hen
calculating frequency and volume of blood collection.
4f you are not e!perienced in blood collection technique and %ould li"e training contact:
trainer47C8C9ucsf.edu
Collection Site Adantages Disadantages
Su!mandi!ula" Sampling :referred blood collection
method
&a!imum allo%able sample
volume %ith minimal trauma
&ust be securely restrained
7nesthesia recommended
;ields a large sample so should not
be used for frequent small sampling
Late"al Tail #ein o"
#ent"al$Do"sal A"te"%
Sampling
7nesthesia not required
<ein is easily accessed
&ust be securely restrained
;ields only small quantities
=ome speciali>ed equipment
needed
&et"o'o"!ital Sinus ;ields a greater volume of
blood
7nesthesia is required
4s a discouraged technique
Ris" of in?ury to the eye and
surround structures
Sap(enous Sampling 7nesthesia not required Requires some speciali>ed training
)medial o" late"al app"oac(* !cellent technique for serial
blood sampling
&oderate volume of blood
can be collected
=peciali>ed equipment required
Ca"diac +unctu"e &a!imum volume of blood
can be collected
Requires deep anesthesia.
@on)survival procedure only
&e,e"ences:
'. http:--?a!mice.?a!.org-faq-%ithdra%ingbloodAamounts.html
.. &itru"a B&# Ra%nsley B&. '0*'. Clinical# biochemical and hematological reference values in normal
e!perimental animals and normal humans. @e% ;or": &asson :ublishingC 6'1 p.
1. Bar"ness D# 2agner D. '0*0. Biology and husbandry. 4n: Bar"ness D# 2agner D# editors. The biology and
medicine of rabbits and rodents# 1rd ed. :hiladelphia: Eea F $ebigerC 1(. p.
6. &cGuill &2# Ro%an 7@. '0*0. Biological effects of blood loss: implications for sampling volumes and techniques.
ILAR News 1':/).+
/. Guidelines for the =urvival Bleeding of &ice and Rats. .+'+:
oacu.od.ni(.gov-7R7C-documents-RodentABleeding.pdf