Venipuncture Site and Technique
Venipuncture site should be based on where it is safe to access a vein that will not collapse when blood is withdrawn.1 In horses and goats, the jugular vein is most commonly used for blood collection.
Alternative but often less recommended sites for venipuncture in horses resulting from safety concerns include the facial sinus, cephalic vein dorsal to carpus, and saphenous veins. In cattle, the jugular and coccygeal (tail) vein can be accessed. Less often, the mammary vein is used due to the risk of personal injury and of hematoma formation at the blood draw site. Depending on the venipuncture site, species, and size of the animal, an 18- to 22-gauge needle and syringe or a double-ended needle and sheath or Vacutainer system (Becton Dickinson and Co., Franklin Lakes, N.J.) with a collection tube can be used to collect blood after the site of the venipuncture is cleaned with an absorbent and 70% isopropyl alcohol and the vein is digitally occluded. After venipuncture, digital pressure should be applied over the site where the needle is removed to prevent hematoma formation.2 Good technique is important because traumatic venipuncture can result in platelet activation and clumping of platelets. This can falsely decrease the measured platelet count generated by hematology analyzers. Clotted samples will necessitate a recollection.
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