• Technique
• Summary
• Resources and references
• Blood vessel cannulation technique in other animals
• All blood sampling techniques in the hamster

Please read the general principles of blood sampling page before attempting any blood sampling procedure.

Technique

Cardiac puncture is a suitable technique to obtain a single, good quality sample from a euthanised hamster or a hamster under deep terminal anaesthesia if coagulation parameters, a separate arterial or venous sample or cardiac histology are not required. It is appropriate for all strains of hamster.

A sample of up to 5 ml of blood can be obtained depending on the size of the hamster and whether the heart is beating. Blood samples are taken from the heart, preferably the ventricle, which can be accessed either via the left side of the chest, through the diaphragm, from the top of the sternum or by performing a thoracotomy. Blood should be withdrawn slowly to prevent the heart collapsing.

Summary

Resources and references

• Parasuraman S, Raveendran R, Kesavan R (2010). Blood sample collection in small laboratory animals. Journal of pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics1(2): 87
• Hoff J. (2000). Methods of blood collection in the mouse. Lab Animal 29:10
• Morton DB, Jennings M, Buckwell A, Ewbank R, Godfrey C, Holgate B, & Verschoyle R. (2001). Refining procedures for the administration of substances. Laboratory Animals, 35(1): 1-41

Cardiac puncture sampling in other animals

All blood sampling techniques in the hamster