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Antivenom

Antivenoms are purified antibodies which act as a kind of molecular sponge to soak up venoms or venom components (toxins). ...

Antivenom

Antivenoms are purified antibodies which act as a kind of molecular sponge to soak up venoms or venom components (toxins). The most commonly used animal in the production of Australian antivenoms is the horse. Sheep, rabbits and dogs are also currently used in Australia. Venom is obtained in a number of different ways. Snakes and funnel web spiders are milked for their venom. Stonefish, redback spider and box jellyfish venoms are extracted from dissected glands and tissues. This can be a dangerous process. Today there are 12 commercially available antivenoms in Australia.
Australian snake antivenoms Produced in: Other Australian antivenomsProduced in: 
    
Tiger snake

Horses

Funnel web spider

Rabbits

Brown snake

Horses

Redback spider

Horses

Taipan

Horses

Australian paralysis tick

Dogs

Black snake

Horses

Box jellyfish

Sheep

Death adder

Horses

Stonefish

Horses

Sea snake

Horses

  
Polyvalent snake

Horses

  

Exotic Antivenom Holdings Database

This is a database of institutions in Australia with current supplies of exotic snake antivenom, showing the quantity (number of vials) and earliest expiry date, along with the relevant venomous exotic species held by the institution.

You may view the holdings data here:

Exotic Antivenom Holdings: Institutions

The institutions in Australia with current supplies of exotic snake antivenom are listed together with the quantity (number of vials) and earliest expiry date. The relevant venomous exotic species held by the institution are also listed. Current as of 16/02/12.

Antivenom: Australian Antivenoms

Australia was one of the first countries in the world to experiment with snake antivenoms, in 1898, when Frank Tidswell commenced immunization of a former ambulance horse with tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) venom. CSL Ltd is the sole manufacturer of antivenoms for human use in Australia. Australian antivenoms are amongst the best in the world, in terms of high purity and low adverse reaction rate.

Venom and Antivenom

Find out here how antivenom is made and how it works, and find out about the nature of venom and its effects.

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