Training pair-housed rhesus males to cooperate during blood collection (2001)

Reinhardt, V.

Abstract

In many laboratory studies, venipuncture (blood collection) is a routine activity. Some animal care managers assume that blood collection requires single-housing and squeezing (and stressing) the primate subjects. Not true!Here, we show a simple training procedure that is based on positive interaction between the caretaker and primates AND it allows the subjects to remain pair-housed throughout the procedure.All 10 animals were successfully trained. Total time investment per male ranged from 16 to 63 minutes with a mean of 39 minutes.Once trained, each of the ten males cooperated during blood collection not only with the trainer but also with the attending care personnel and unfamiliar, yet competent people.Nobody should work with a macaque if the animal refuses to take food from his/her hand.