EFFECTS OF ANTICOAGULANTS AND STORAGE (4-DEGREES-C) ON PACKED CELL-VOLUME (PCV) OF NIGERIAN DOMESTIC-FOWL (GALLUS-DOMESTICUS) AND GUINEA-FOWL (NUMIDA MELEAGRIS)

1. Studies were conducted to determine the effects of anticoagulants a nd storage (4 degrees C) on the PCV of blood samples from Nigerian dom estic fowl (DF) and the guinea fowl (GF). 2. Citrate significantly red uced pre-storage PCV of the DF in comparison with the effect of ethyle nediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA). 3. It further decreased (P<0.05) t he PCV of the blood of DF and GF over 3 d of storage; this was similar to the effect of EDTA on the PCV of the GF blood. 4. Citrate and oxal ates induced haemolysis of blood of the DF and the GF in storage faste r than EDTA, but overall the haemolysis was more pronounced from red c ells of the GF than from those of the DF. 5. The mean fall in the PCV of the DF was significant at 3.0 mg EDTA/ml of blood in contrast to th e fall in the PCV of the GF blood.