Author Spotlight: Context Dependent Blood Collection Methods in Rats

The issue of repeated blood collection methods needs to be addressed since the majority of studies on rats require them. It's important to take into account that a sampling method can be very efficient in a certain context, but become unsuitable for another study. This protocol aims to offer simple and reliable blood sampling alternatives to researchers.

Both methods can be done by a single operator and require no extensive prior training, which allows for standardized procedure. When an animal is under anesthesia, the effect of isoflurane can lead to vessel spasm and make the tail vein puncture unsuitable for blood collection. Our protocol offers an alternative in this situation, the penile vein puncture, which presents a better success rate and yields significantly more amounts of blood in less time.