TABLE 13.
Blood sampling methods
| Route | General anesthesia required | Speed and efficiency | Sample quantity | Repeated sampling | Relative volumes attainable | Potential for complications | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saphenous | No | ++ | ++ | Yes | Small–medium | Low | Repeated sampling by removing scab |
| Lateral tail vein | No | ++ | + | Yes | Small | Low | Samples may clot |
| Ventral/dorsal artery | No | +++ | ++ | Yes | Small–medium | Low to moderate | Damaging the artery results in tail necrosis |
| Tail clip | Yes, if >3 wk old | +++ | +/– | Yes (limited) | 1–2 drops | Low | Contaminated sample |
| Retro-orbital sinus | Yes | +++ | +++ | Yes (limited) | Medium–large | Moderate | Good technique required |
| Mandibular | No | +++ | +++ | Yes | Medium–large | Low | Noninvasive for larger samples |
| Cardiac puncture | Yes | +++ | +++ | No | Large | NA | Terminal |
| Vena cava | Yes | ++ | +++ | No | Medium–large | NA | Terminal |
| Axilla | Yes | +++ | +/– | No | Medium–large | NA | Terminal |
