The saphenous vein and tail vein are more refined and appropriate routes of sampling for most studies and strains of mice. ... Sampling should not occur if it is not possible to visualise the tail vein and saphenous vein sampling should be considered ... 1998). Saphenous vein puncture for blood sampling of the mouse, rat, hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, ferret and mink. Laboratory ... Hem A et al. (1998). Saphenous vein puncture for blood sampling of the mouse, rat, hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, ferret and mink ...