Blood sampling techniques and preparing for analysis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In aquaculture, biochemical and hematological analyzes are frequently performed for scientific research, health screening and diagnosis of diseases. Biochemical and hematological parameters in fish as in other vertebrates varies nutrition, water quality, pathogens and various environmental factors that can create stress. Caudal vascular blood collection is a non-invasive method that is widely used to investigate fish health, biochemistry, and physiology. As a result of this method being performed under the influence of a properly selected anesthetic agent, animal welfare is affected the least, thus preventing a serious change in biochemical parameters with minimum stress. In this review, sampling collection suitable for the analysis to be performed and choosing the right anesthetic agent are presented.