Encyclopedia of Experiments: Immunology
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Transcript
Position a mouse within a disinfected chamber to ensure access to its tail.
Secure the chamber to minimize mouse movement.
Sterilize the tail and anesthetize it.
Using sharp surgical scissors, snip off a small portion from the tip of the mouse's tail, which contains a network of blood vessels.
This tail-snipping procedure enables the collection of a small volume of peripheral blood.
Collect the blood into a heparinized capillary tube using the tube's capillary action. The heparinized tube helps prevent blood coagulation.
Using a bulb syringe, transfer the blood into an EDTA-coated tube.
Invert the tube for proper mixing of the blood with EDTA, an anticoagulant. EDTA binds calcium ions within the blood, preventing coagulation.
Centrifuge the tube to separate the plasma from the blood cells.
Collect and transfer the plasma-containing top layer to a fresh tube.
Store the tube at lower temperatures to maintain the integrity of the plasma components.
