title: Animal models for blood transfusion: a model for sterile blood sampling in the rat.
abstract: Rat blood is frequently used for experimental transfusion. However, no data are available concerning the quality of the blood used, although bacterial contamination could severely alter results. To obtain large quantities of sterile rat blood for a transfusion study, we tested carotid artery cannulation, known as a standard procedure. Blood cultures from the collected blood showed polymicrobial overgrowth even after sterility measures were improved. In contrast, the puncture of the abdominal aorta proved to be a simple and reliable method for the collection of sterile blood. We conclude that studies using blood collected from donor rats should be controlled and the quality of such blood be tested before transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Economics of Medicine in Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Vienna, Austria. fir@ana.khl.magwien.gv.at
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Sibbald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D008297:Male; D011786:Quality Control; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013242:Sterilization; D013594:Syringes; D013997:Time Factors