Influences of blood sampling procedures on basal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal hormone levels and leukocyte values in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

The influences of housing location and temporal factors on the results of blood sampling were examined to determine their contributions to levels of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal hormones, as well as leukocyte subset counts from peripheral blood in rhesus monkeys. Differences in housing location and the amount of room disturbance associated with blood sampling have a significant impact on cell counts, but not on ACTH or cortisol levels.