Königsweg 67
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 61146
tierschutz@vetmed.fu-berlin.de
At the experimental institute for animals in Düsseldorf a pilot project installing a blood-bank was started.During this experiment shepherd-dogs, foxhounds and beagles were used as one time blood donors or dogs for euthanasia in order to gain blood.From the commonly used blood donor sets plastic bags and vacuum bottles prepared with ACD and ACD-A have been used. Punctions were performed at the v. jugularis externa in blood donors or at the a. carotis communis in euthanasia dogs..Following common extracting and storage practices the preserves were kept according to the time recommended by the producer. During the storage time, changes in blood corpuscles sedimentation and the sharpness of the dividing line between the cell sediment and plasma were examined at regular intervals.The blood corpuscle sedimentation was increased in all collections examined during the first five days of storage. The macroscopic examination showed differences between the vacuum bottles and plastic bags. While the blood conserved in 54 vacuum bottles showed no sign of haemolysis during 21 and 28 days of storage time, first signs of haemolysis appeared in 11 of 20 examined plastic bags during the fifth week of storage.After the storage time was finished all the preservs were subjected to a bacterial examination. Moreover the count of red and white bloodcells, as well as of platelets, the determination of haemoglobin and the measurements of haematocrit- and pH-level were carried out in each sample..After a storage ime of 21, 28 and 49 days a statistically significant fall off red and white blood cells and platelets could be seen without difference in quality between arterial and veinal blood. In opposition to the initial values there was also a significant fall of haemoglobin and haematocrit values, whereupon differences between arterial and veinal blood were statistically signifikant only after 28 and 49 days of storage.Concerning the pH-value no significant difference was noticed between arterially and veinally gained blood conserves. After a storage of more than 28 days the pH-level was lower than after a storage of 21 and 28 days.After the storage time was finished the sterility of all blood conserves has been confirmed. The present project indicates that a blood bank for dogs can be organised in an experimental institute for animals with the use of commonly available blood donor sets and technical equipment. For this purpose no difficulties arouse with regard to space, time, personel and financial aspects.After installing the blood bank the demand for blood conserves in the animal test laboratory rose considerably. In view of sufficient supply of blood donors it would be feasible to make the blood conserves also available to the veterinary practices in the nearer area.