Sample
collection
Vn117 animal nursing
The nurses role
• Collection of samples from the animal
• Storage, packaging, labelling and paper work for
referral of samples
• In house diagnostics using a variety of in house
instrumentation and tests
• Instrument maintenance and quality control
safety
• Human body fluids must be considered infectious
• Even very dilute animal body fluids may transmit
some zoonosis eg HIV, hepatitis B & C, TB and lepto
• Use biohaz bags for material contaminated by
blood, well sealed
• Use PPE
• Spills:
•
•
Small: wipe with disinfectant (70% alcohol, 2% hypochlorite or 1% Virkon).
Larger: Virkon powder for 3 min then wipe up with disinfectant
Collection of blood
samples
• Correct needle size and vacutainer type for the
species and test
• ensure the animal is safely and securely restrained.
• Start distally
• Only clip enough hair to visualise the vein readily
• Swab with 70% alcohol
• Insert the needle at approximately 30-degree angle
with skin with the bevel up, then lower to about 20degrees once in the vein. Aspirate slowly
• digital pressure afterwards at least 60 seconds for a
vein, 5 mins for an artery
Veins for collection
Species
Collection site
Dog
Jugular vein (preferred), cephalic vein
Cat, horse, sheep
Jugular vein
Cow
Tail vein, jugular vein
Pig
Anterior vena cava
Rabbit
Jugular vein, cephalic vein (small vol), ear vein (possibly small
vol)
Bird
Right jugular vein, ulnar vein
Collection with
vacutainers
Colour
Anticoagulant Type of sample
Application
Red
None
Clotted blood/serum
Biochemistry, Serology
Green or yellow/green
Heparin
Whole blood/plasma
Lavender
EDTA
Whole blood
Preferred exotic
(avian/rept)
Haematology except exotic
Grey
Oxalate fluoride
Whole blood
Glucose
Light blue
Sodium citrate
Whole blood/plasma
Coagulation; must fill
Dark blue
None
Clotted blood/serum
Trace elements
Collection of venous
blood
• Ideally most tests fast
for 12hrs prior, no stress
• At least ½ fill tubes with
anticoagulant
• Label:
o Name date time of collection
sample, ref vet
Storage and labelling
• Whole blood: refrigerate (+4oC) max 2 days
• Serum and plasma: refrigerate (+4oC) max 2 days
• • Some tests freezing ok, do not thaw and
refreeze.
• • Remove clot from serum if longer than 24 hours.
• Label: owner's name, the animal's name or ID, date
and time of collection.
Plasma and serum
• Heparin blood
centrifuge 2500 RPM for
5 min.
• Remove supernatant
with a Pasteur pipette,
• COLLECTION OF SERUM
• Method 1: Whole blood
(no anticoag), leave to
clot, continue as for
plasma.
• Method 2: Whole blood,
leave upside down to
clot, remove clot with lid.
• Method 3: Collect in
serum gel tube, spin 20003000 RPM for 10 min.
Sites for large animal
blood sampling
• Jugular vein: vein of choice in horses, sheep and
young cattle
• RIGHT Anterior vena cava or ear vein: pigs
older cattle
Bird blood samples: wing
vein