A new enzyme immunoassay system suitable for field use and its application in a snake venom detection kit.

A new rapid enzyme immunoassay (EIA) field kit for the detection of antigen in clinical specimens is reported. A kit for the detection and identification of snake venom in specimens collected from envenomated patients is described as an example of such a field kit. Tabulated data were obtained from a pilot study in which kits were issued to hospitals and laboratories reporting regular admission of snake bitten patients or presentation of specimens from such patients. Questionnaires returned from participants in the trial indicated that the test configuration was highly acceptable and an excellent correlation was obtained between clinical diagnosis and the detection and identification of snake venom in specimens of blood, urine or bite-site swab washings.