Antivenom Manufacture
| Antivenoms are purified antibodies against venoms or venom components. The antibodies are made by other animals. The most commonly used animal in the production of Australian antivenoms is the horse. Sheep, rabbits and dogs are also currently used in Australia. These animals are innoculated with a non-lethal dose of venom, in response to which their immune systems make antibodies. These are extracted and purified in the making of antivenom. Venom is obtained from different animals in different ways. Snakes and funnel web spiders are milked for their venom. |  Photo courtesy P. Mirtschin, Venom Supplies |