Blood samples were collected from a total of 70 rabbits at three locations in Trinidad. The locations were the University Field Station (n=46), the School of Veterinary Medicine (n=11), and the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (n=13). Complete blood counts and serum chemistry determinations were done for each sample. Values obtained were compared to reference ranges in the literature. The effects of gender, maturity (juveniles vs. adults), breed (New Zealand White vs. Mixed), and rabbitry on all parameters were examined. Mixed rabbits were crossbreds consisting of at least two breeds: New Zealand White, Californian, Checkered Giant. A comparison was made between values for haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, and white blood cell count, obtained by manual and automated methods. Most values obtained were within the ranges of those in the literature with the exception of urea (5.5-7.0 mmol/L), albumin (50.56-52.98 g/L) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) (572.70-821.98 U/L). Albumin and CPK concentrations were higher and urea lower (P<0.05) for the present study. Significant differences (P<0.05) between automated and manual values were found for haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), with values for automated methods being higher for Hb and MCHC and lower for PCV. For the leukon, husbandry practices had an effect on neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte, and platelet values while maturity influenced neutrophil and lymphocyte counts (P<0.05). The automated white blood cell count (WBC a ) was affected by breed (P<0.05). In the case of the erythron, husbandry practices affected automated PCV and MCHC values, and red blood cell counts (RBC) (P<0.05). Maturity influenced automated Hb and PCV values, and RBC (P<0.05). Mixed breeds had higher automated Hb, PCV and RBC values than New Zealand White rabbits (P<0.05). Male rabbits had higher values than females for manual and automated Hb, manual and automated PCV, and RBC (P<0.05). For serum chemistry, husbandry practices had an effect on potassium (K), phosphorus (P), creatinine, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), amylase and calcium (P<0.05). Phosphorus, AST, cholesterol and glucose were higher for juveniles; while chloride was higher for adult rabbits (P<0.05). Only CPK was affected by breed, with the mixed breed having higher values than New Zealand White rabbits (P<0.05). Males had higher values for potassium, total protein, and albumin, while females had higher values for cholesterol (P<0.05). Haematology and serum chemistry reference intervals obtained in this study may therefore be considered useful baseline values for domestic rabbit populations in the Caribbean.

Background and objectives Trinidad and Tobago is a developing country with a hospital‐based, replacement blood donation system, low annual donation rate and high frequency of donor transfusion transmissible infections. Previous studies suggest a need for more information to improve total donations and encourage conversion to voluntary non‐remunerated blood donation. The aim of this study was to investigate public knowledge and perceptions about receiving blood to derive information for designing a safe blood donation campaign. Materials and methods A cross‐sectional, questionnaire‐based survey was administered to a non‐randomly selected sample of adults at seven health centres. Participants were surveyed for demographics, knowledge of the local transfusion service, confidence in safety checks and attitudes to blood receipt. Results Of 400 respondents, a substantial proportion (38·2%) was unaware of inadequate blood bank stock. Only 18·4% correctly identified the method of blood donor recruitment in the country. Only 1·2% of participants were able to identify all from a list of six scenarios, in which blood is transfused. Although 86% would accept transfusion, most (84%) of these had concerns about acquiring infections and hospital‐related activities. Young persons and females had higher risk perception (P = 0·026 and P = 0·041). There was a positive association between confidence in the safety of blood donation processes and willingness to accept transfusion. Conclusion A blood donor education programme should include all processes from donor recruitment to component administration to reduce the perceived risk of receiving blood in Trinidad and Tobago.