VENOM DETECTION KITS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SNAKEBITE IN CENTRAL PROVINCE, PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA

The bites of six species of venomous elapid snakes in Central Province Papua New Guinea produce similar clinical syndromes, Optimal manageme nt of envenomed patients involves the use of monospecific antivenom. I n this study, Venom Detection Kits (VDKs) (CSL Diagnostics, Melbourne) were used to try to make a specific diagnosis in envenomed patients a t their admission. VDKs detected venom in admission bite site swabs fr om 39 of 46 patients (85%). Thirty-eight of these patients were shown to have been bitten by taipans. In all cases where venom was detected by the VDK, this correlated with subsequent laboratory enzyme immunoas say results. Selective use of VDKs in Central Province could allow mor e widespread use of monospecific antivenoms and produce considerable f inancial savings.