![]() Our breeding facility is not a petting zoo. In an effort to keep things streamlined and running smoothly, here is things we cannot help with, do not do or will not respond to Having said this we are always happy to speak to (not texting or voice notes) to new hobbyists as long as it does not interfere with our very busy day-to-day (or our family time after regular hours) Can I come and have a look at your Variable Bush Vipers Then, of course, along with the antivenom costs, you have to add in all the other hospital costs, intensive care and all which in the case of a bad viper bite could easily top a quarter of a million dollars.Every day, we face an overwhelming number of queries coming in for services that we do not provide. Not long ago an individual was given 110 vials of antivenom for a prairie rattlesnake bite (although 10 to 20 is more typical for prairie rattlesnake bites) We have heard of pharmacies in the US charging up to $10,000 per vial. The synthetic American antivenom used to treat rattlesnake bites is often priced like a retail commodity with no regulation - a hospital pharmacy can charge whatever they want. A Gaboon Viper bite could require 20 or more vials which cost $315 each. For a Taipan bite one might need 7 to 10 vials at $2100 per vial.Fortunately it is a much cheaper antivenom (though also not as effective as others either) at just $40 per vial. ![]() A King Cobra bite could require 20 vials, although 50 is not unheard of.A single vial of Boomslang antivenom costs $5500 and one could require up to 3 vials to counteract a serious bite.Some of our snakes are so rare that there is no specific antivenom for its bite so we stock up on one that specialists consider close enough to do the job - at least good enough to keep you alive. ![]() We try to keep enough antivenom to neutralize a really bad envenomation by each and every species of snake we have. Quantities needed to neutralize a bite vary. How Much Do You Need and How Much Does It Cost? When we have the new stock we dispose of our oldest stock as per methods required by US government regulation. Once it finally arrives it goes in a special refrigerator that holds only our antivenom stock. They arrange the shipping but we have to contact our customs broker who is needed to clear the shipment through US Customs and get the package on to us as quickly as possible.īecause of the lengthy process we usually start working on getting fresh antivenom a year or more before our current stock expires. However, this type is considered by some in the business to be slightly less effective.Īs soon as the permit arrives we complete the order with the venom lab and arrange a bank transfer for payment. ![]() This type is far more stable and can take somewhat warmer temperatures than the liquid type. The other type is known as lyophilized which is freeze-dried and is then reconstituted in the vial at time of use. This is not something you want to find out when you need it. If a shipment is delayed and the box is left, say, out in the sun on the tarmac or in a hot airport warehouse for too long then its efficacy can be greatly diminished. There are two main types of antivenom: vials containing liquid antivenom, which is rather delicate and requires constant refrigeration. Therefore, we always try to get the freshest batches possible for the longest shelf life. If we order just before a new production run then we could spend a lot of effort and money on antivenom that will expire just a few months after we get it. Some antivenoms are good for only two years. While applying for the import permit we also begin the process of contacting the venom lab to see what antivenoms they have in stock and, critically, what the expiration dates are on the stock we would receive. It requires us to detail what we want and why we want it, provide information regarding what our bite protocol is, how we will be importing it, how we will store it, and how we will dispose of expired antivenoms if we don't use them. The permit application process can take many months. Orders from separate labs require separate permit applications. The next step is to apply for a US government permit to import a specific venom lab's antivenoms, the specific types being requested and quantities of each. But once you get your IND # you don't just go online and order from Amazon.
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