Survey of assay methods of antivenins; immunological factors influencing antivenin standardization.

In view of the multiplicity of methods used at present for the preparation and assay of antivenins and as a first step towards the international standardization of antivenins, it seemed advisable to make a comparative study of the methods used in the institutes specializing in the production of these sera. With this end in view, the author circulated to the serologists of institutes concerned a detailed questionnaire on the assay methods used for the determination of the neutralization potency of the various types of antivenins prepared under their direction. The information supplied by these institutes is reproduced, in condensed form, in this report and is analysed by the author.THE AUTHOR EMPHASIZES THAT THE GREAT VARIETY IN THE CONSTITUTION OF VENOMS NECESSITATES: (1) the use of monovalent standard sera against homologous "test" venoms of high activity and stability; and (2) the establishment, on a regional basis, of standard antivenins corresponding to groups of snakes characterized by venoms of common or closely related antigenic constitution.