Technique for collection of ech:
(CITRATE TO WHOLE BLOOD RATIO IS CRITICAL) DOGS, CATS, PRIMATES, RABBITS
Syringe Method: Draw citrate anticoagulant (3.8% Na citrate) into a plastic syringe and then perform venipuncture using a ratio of 1 part citrate: 9 parts blood as follows:
- 0.3 mL citrate plus 2.7 mL blood = 3.0 mL total sample
- 0.4 mL citrate plus 3.6 mL blood = 4.0 mL total sample
- 0.5 mL citrate plus 4.5 mL blood = 5.0 mL total sample
Use a vacutainer needle or vacutainer butterfly set to draw blood directly into a 3 or 5 ml sodium citrate vacutainer tube. A COMPLETE DRAW MUST BE OBTAINED.
LARGE ANIMALS (COW, HORSE, SHEEP, GOAT)
Use a vacutainer needle and draw blood directly into a 5 - 10 mL blue top (3.8% Na citrate) vacutainer tube. A COMPLETE DRAW MUST BE OBTAINED.
LABORATORY ANIMALS (RODENTS, SMALL MAMMALS):
- If possible, do not use the eye orbital vein or tail vein collection technique
- Anesthesia (deep surgical plane) is necessary for blood collection. Suitable anesthetic agents include pentobarbital or ketamine/xylazine.
- Incise the body wall and peritoneum on the ventral midline in order to expose the abdominal aorta for needle puncture.
- Place citrate anticoagulant (3.8% Na citrate) into a plastic syringe and then draw blood using a 22 or 23 gauge needle. The ratio of citrate to blood must be exactly 1: 9 as in the following examples:
- 0.1 mL citrate plus 0.9 mL blood = 1.0 mL total sample
- 0.2 mL citrate plus 1.8 mL blood = 2.0 mL total sample
- 0.3 mL citrate plus 2.7 mL blood = 3.0 mL total sample
- Centrifuge whole blood in a plastic or siliconized glass tube for 1 min. in a microfuge or for 10 min. in a tabletop centrifuge.
- Transfer PLASMA ONLY into a plastic tube using a plastic pipet
- Store samples frozen (-70 o C to -20 o C) until shipment
- Ship samples in a styrofoam box with cold packs.
- Ship overnight to arrive next day morning or afternoon
- Wrap tubes to prevent breakage.