ABSTRACT
The preanalytical and analytical variations are much greater when dealing with laboratory animals compared to the effects observed on human data, and large preanalytical and analytical variations can limit the diagnostic sensitivity and specicity of the measurements made. In this chapter some of the preanalytical factors are considered, and they are listed here:
Animals-Species, strain, age, gender, pregnancy Blood collection procedures-Volume, frequency, anticoagulant, collection
site, anesthesia Stress, environment, transportation Nutrition and uid balance Chronobiological rhythms
In the previous chapters, attention has been drawn to some of the differences in the morphology of the various blood cells of the laboratory animal species, mean red cell volumes, and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios.
