Turn the rabbit into dorsal recumbency and clip the hair on the neck from the start of the mandible to the thoracic inlet using the electric clippers with #40 blade. the knife handle and scalpel blade, make an incision just lateral to the trachea and about 1 1/2”-2” long. blunt dissection with a kelly forcep, separate the connective tissue between the sternohyoideus and sternocepalicus muscles. Once the carotid artery is exposed, use the mosquito forcep to gently separate the carotid artery from the nerve. Loop two silk ligature (2-0) lengths (3-4 inches) under the carotid artery. Tie the silk ligature that is most cranial so that it occludes blood flow. Place one throw on the ligature proximally to the heart, so that it is ready to tie down. Have an assistant pull up on both ligatures, so that you have good exposure of the carotid artery. Make a small cut in the artery about 0.5 cm from the cranial silk tie using vascular scissors. Place the tip of the vein introducer through the hole and into the artery. the catheter under the introducer and into the artery, past the ligature. Insert the catheter approximately 8 cm into the carotid and then tie the proximal ligature snuggly over the catheter. Tie the distal ligature over the catheter to anchor it in place. Pull the catheter so that it is taut (but not sliding out of the artery), and tape it to the face mask with masking tape or white tape. Inflate the pressure bag over the I.V. fluids to 150 mm Hg, and open the line fully so that it is flowing in. Start removing the blood from the catheter with a 60 cc syringe. Put collected into 50 ml centrifuge tubes. Label vials 1, 2, 3….. to identify the order of collection. *This technique allows for the collection of a much greater percentage of the blood volume of a rabbit compared to that using cardiac puncture.* GUINEA PIG Cardiac Puncture NB: This technique is only used when attempts at vena cava collection are unsuccessful. Day before blood sampling fast the guinea pig overnight. – Weigh the guinea pig and record the weight in the file.
Turn the rabbit into dorsal recumbency and clip the hair on the neck from the start of the mandible to the thoracic inlet using the electric clippers with #40 blade. the knife handle and scalpel blade, make an incision just lateral to the trachea and about 1 1/2”-2” long. blunt dissection with a kelly forcep, separate the connective tissue between the sternohyoideus and sternocepalicus muscles. Once the carotid artery is exposed, use the mosquito forcep to gently separate the carotid artery from the nerve. Loop two silk ligature (2-0) lengths (3-4 inches) under the carotid artery. Tie the silk ligature that is most cranial so that it occludes blood flow. Place one throw on the ligature proximally to the heart, so that it is ready to tie down. Have an assistant pull up on both ligatures, so that you have good exposure of the carotid artery. Make a small cut in the artery about 0.5 cm from the cranial silk tie using vascular scissors. Place the tip of the vein introducer through the hole and into the artery. the catheter under the introducer and into the artery, past the ligature. Insert the catheter approximately 8 cm into the carotid and then tie the proximal ligature snuggly over the catheter. Tie the distal ligature over the catheter to anchor it in place. Pull the catheter so that it is taut (but not sliding out of the artery), and tape it to the face mask with masking tape or white tape. Inflate the pressure bag over the I.V. fluids to 150 mm Hg, and open the line fully so that it is flowing in. Start removing the blood from the catheter with a 60 cc syringe. Put collected into 50 ml centrifuge tubes. Label vials 1, 2, 3….. to identify the order of collection. *This technique allows for the collection of a much greater percentage of the blood volume of a rabbit compared to that using cardiac puncture.* GUINEA PIG Cardiac Puncture NB: This technique is only used when attempts at vena cava collection are unsuccessful. Day before blood sampling – fast the guinea pig overnight. Weigh the guinea pig and record the weight in the file.
C201(BloodCollection).docx