Basic Lab Techniques

The foundation to a well-balanced laboratory begins with the basic tools to become an in vivo specialist. An important building block is “hands-on” laboratory training for the staff. As in the clinic, all laboratory studies begin with a physical examination to insure each individual in a study has a healthy appearance. Animal restraint is an essential first step to minimize stress in the study groups and ultimately results in the collection of meaningful data. Once these basic steps are learned, additional hands-on techniques (injection, blood collection methods, anesthesia, basic necropsy for tissue collection and methods of euthanasia) are introduced.

Animal Restraint
One-handed or Two-handed
Technique

Injection Techniques
Intravenous – Tail Vein
Subcutaneous
Intraperitoneal
Oral Gavage

Blood Collection
Tail Vein
Retro-orbital
Cardiac Puncture
Saphenous Vein

Necropsy/Anesthesia Methods
Basic injection anesthesia
Collection of tissue for assay or histological evaluation