HUMAN SNAKE BITE VICTIMS: THE SUCCESSFUL DETECTION OF CIRCULATING SNAKE VENOM BY RADIOIMMUNOASSAY

Abstract

A new solid-phase radioimmunoassay has been developed which allows positive identification of the type of snake venom in human tissue and fluids and its accurate quantitation. Tiger snake venom at a level of 210 ng/ml was detected post mortem in the serum of a child, and brown snake venom was detected in two adults bitten by unidentified snakes. Apart from forensic applications, the assay will be useful in studying clinical aspects of envenomation and the use of antivenenes.