Quality of blood samples from the saphenous vein compared with the tail vein during multiple blood sampling of mice.

A large number of methods for obtaining blood from mice have been published. In our facility, saphenous venepuncture is considered the method of choice for bleeding mice and is believed to have a number of welfare advantages when performed correctly. The aim of this study was to compare levels of haemolysis and plasma glucose in blood samples obtained by saphenous venepuncture and tail vein incision. The results indicate that saphenous venepuncture is the preferred method.