Venom ELISA
Definition
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in which species-specific anti-venom antibodies are used to detect residual venom antigen in serum, urine, bite-site exudate or post-mortem tissue. The principal method for forensic confirmation of envenomation after the patient is dead.
- Method type
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- Detects
- Species-specific venom antigen
- Sample types
- Serum, urine, bite-site exudate, post-mortem tissue
- Forensic role
- Confirms envenomation after death, when clinical symptoms can no longer be observed
Common questions
Why is venom ELISA especially important in a post-mortem investigation compared with a living-patient case?+
In a living patient, clinical signs such as local swelling, coagulopathy, or neurotoxic symptoms can support a snakebite diagnosis alongside history, but a death investigation lacks that clinical picture, so a positive venom antigen result becomes the main objective confirmation that envenomation occurred and by which species.
Can venom ELISA identify which species of snake or animal was responsible?+
Yes, because the antibodies used are raised against a specific species' venom antigens, a positive result against one antivenom panel and negative against others narrows the responsible species, though cross-reactivity between related species can occur and needs to be accounted for in interpretation.
Related terms
- 20WBCT
- Twenty minute whole blood clotting test. A few millilitres of fresh venous blood are placed in a clean dry glass tube, left...
- Autonomic Storm
- The biphasic cardiovascular crisis of Indian red scorpion envenomation. An initial cholinergic phase of vomiting, salivation and bradycardia is followed by an...
- Neurotoxic Envenomation
- Venom-induced paralysis from blockade of the neuromuscular junction. The Indian cobra produces post-synaptic blockade through alpha-neurotoxins binding the acetylcholine receptor. The common...
- The Big Four
- The four Indian snake species responsible for the bulk of medically significant envenomation: Naja naja (Indian cobra), Bungarus caeruleus (common krait), Daboia...
- VICC
- Venom-induced consumption coagulopathy, the haemotoxic syndrome of Russell's viper and saw-scaled viper bites in which the venom activates coagulation factors, consumes fibrinogen...