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Guidelines for 
Maximum Injections

General Guidelines on Injections & Technique

Guidelines for Injections Sites, Volumes, & Needle Gauges

Guidelines for Maximal Injection Volumes, By Species and Site

Species

SubcutaneousIntramuscularIntraperitonealIntravenous Intradermal

Mouse

1 – 2 ml < 0.1 ml 2 – 3 ml< 0.2 ml< 0.05 ml

Rat

5 – 10 ml< 0.3 ml 5 – 10 ml< 0.5 ml < 0.05 ml

Hamster

3 – 4 ml< 0.1 ml 3 – 4 ml < 0.3 ml  < 0.05 ml

Rabbit

10 – 50 ml< 0.5 ml50 – 100 ml< 5 ml< 0.10 ml

Larger
Species

< 150< 2.0 ml< 100 ml< 250< 0.10 ml

NOTE:  All of these are guidelines, alternates are possible with scientific justification and approval of the IACUC.

Information Extracted From:

  • Current Protocols in Immunology, 1990, Wiley – Interscience, New York

  • Laboratory Animals:  An Introduction for Experimenters, A.A. Tuffery, ed., 1987, Wiley – Interscience, Chechester, England, CH. 13 Non-Surgical Experimental Procedures, pp 225 - 260