Bleeding HIV-infected humanized mice requires specific techniques to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus. Here's how it's typically done:

Minimizing Risk:

• Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) environment: Due to the presence of HIV, bleeding should be performed in a BSL-2 facility following appropriate protocols for handling infectious materials.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear gloves, eye protection, a lab coat, and potentially a mask to minimize the risk of accidental contact with infected blood.

Bleeding Technique:

• Terminal bleed: This is the most common method for collecting a large volume of blood. However, it sacrifices the animal.
• Non-terminal bleed: For repeated blood collection, techniques like submandibular vein bleeding or saphenous vein bleeding can be used. These require training and expertise to ensure animal welfare and minimize stress.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Anticoagulation: Depending on the downstream use of the blood, anticoagulants like heparin or EDTA might be used to prevent clotting.
• Volume: The amount of blood collected will depend on the experiment and needs to be balanced with animal welfare.
• Alternatives: In some cases, researchers might opt for alternative methods like collecting plasma or serum instead of whole blood.

Important Note:

It's important to consult your institution's animal care and use committee (IACUC) protocols for specific guidelines on bleeding procedures for HIV-infected humanized mice. They will ensure the use of approved methods that prioritize animal welfare and safety.

Idowu Goodnews Oluwaseyi ,

Thank you very much for your answer. Are you familiar with the submandibular vein blood collection? Do you use anaesthesia for this technique?

Best regards,