Blood Volume Collection Guidelines

Blood Volume Collection Guidelinespdf format, Adobe Acrobat Required(for printing)

Guidelines for Single and Multiple Sampling:

  1. A maximum of 15% of the animal's total blood volume may be safely collected during a SINGLE sampling period. The single sampling period may involve a single blood collection, or multiple collections over a short period such as 24 to 48 hours. The single sampling period may contain multiple blood draws, but the total volume collected should not exceed 15% of blood volume.

    1. Use the chart to find blood volume (ml/kg) for the chosen species.

    2. Calculate the total blood volume using the animal's weight in kg.
    3. Multiple the results from (b) by 15.

    It is recommended that blood collections of 10 to 15% of total blood volume be spaced at least two weeks apart.

  2. Blood collections of up to 7.5% of total blood volume may be collected weekly.

    Blood collection volumes that exceed these guidelines require consultation with the veterinary staff and approval by the IACUC. The total blood volume and recommended collection amounts are based on normal, healthy animals. The amounts may be reduced for very young, aged or debilitated animals.

References:

  1. ILAR News, Volume 31, No. 4, Fall 1989, pp. 5-20.
  2. Canadian Council on Animal Care, Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, Vol. 1, 2nd Edition, 1993, pp. 173-174.
Species Total Blood
Volume (Average)1		 Maximum Allowable Withdrawal Without Consultation 2
Mouse 75 ml/kg 11 ml/kg
Rabbit 61 ml/kg 9 ml/kg
Rat 57.5 ml/kg 9 ml/kg

1from Canadian Council on Animal Care, Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals

2volumes rounded to nearest whole number. These volumes are based on a 15% blood volume sampling, and are the maximum amounts to be taken without veterinary consultation.

Updated June 18, 2007 by SAK