To the Editor: During a national multicentre study of snake bites — the Australian Snakebite Project (ASP), involving over 40 hospitals — we have recently noted a high rate of early allergic reactions following the administration of tiger snake antivenom in Australia. People with suspected or definite snake envenoming are recruited to ASP, and laboratory and clinical data and serial blood samples are collected to measure venom and antivenom concentrations.
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Julian White is employed by the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, which is paid by CSL Ltd to provide a clinical toxinology service for users of CSL antivenom and venom detection products.