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The Hantronic pneumatic tube system was installed for transporting animal blood specimens from animal accommodation to clinical laboratories for analysis. It provides a safe system that is convenient and effective, and allows for rapid analysis of blood following collection. There were no changes considered to be of importance in the mean erythrocyte, leucocyte and platelet counts of whole blood from mice, rats and dogs after transportation through the system.

The performance of a prototype AVL MS8 VET impedance haematology analyser was compared with that of a Technicon H*1 flow cytometry haematology analyser using blood from dogs and cats. Analysis was performed with the AVL MS8 VET on the day of blood collection and with the Technicon H*1 on the following day. Differences were noted in feline leucocyte and platelet counts and in canine and feline mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin concentration between analyses. The results indicate that the AVL MS8 VET is a reliable analyser for blood samples from dogs but may not be for those from cats. Attention is drawn to the importance of considering the type of analyser, calibration of the analyser, time of analysis after blood collection (effect of postal delay) and the effect of anticoagulants.

A haemolysis test has been evaluated as an alternative to the Draize eye test (Draize et al. 1944) for ocular irritancy. Haemolysis was seen with corrosive/ severe and severe/moderate eye irritants but was negligible with non-irritant substances.