The tail Flick test measures spinal nociception and it is based on the sensitivity of the animal to increasing temperature. This test is commonly used in a preliminary phenotyping battery for transgenic mouse models.

Test specifics: The animal is enclosed in a polypropylene tube with an opening through which its tail is exposed. The tail region is exposed to a heat light source and the time the animal takes to move its tail away from the heat source measured.

This test is widely used to determine supraspinal nociception and is also commonly used as preliminary pain sensitivity test in transgenic phenotyping batteries. It is also a widely used and particularly sensitive to the effects of pain-relieving drugs.

Test Specifics: The animal is placed on an apparatus where temperature is gradually increased from 42°C up to 49°C and the time taken by the animal to lift its hind paws from the surface is measured.