A method for rapid and frequent blood collection from the rat tail vein.

A technique is described for the collection of blood samples after dilation of rat tail veins using a controlled temperature device. Frequent blood samples of seven or eight per rat were collected during a 6-hr period. Further samples were taken from the same vein after recannulation during the next 5 days. This technique was also used to administer drugs intravenously through one vein and to collect blood samples from the contralateral vein.