Snake venom cuts wait for critical medical tests

Venom from Australian snakes is helping save human lives. Seriously ill patients are benefiting from shorter turnaround time on critical blood tests, thanks to the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) and the Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis). From ABC Australia:

The bites of eastern brown snakes and coastal taipans are dangerous because their venom causes a victim's blood to coagulate. Researchers at the University of Queensland have pioneered a way to use snake venom to speed up the processing of blood tests of patients who have been given anti-coagulants. Dr Goce Dimeski says tubes infused with snake venom are producing faster and more accurate results. "From a clinical perspective, results will be available in a shorter time," he said. "There's a potential to decrease the length of stay for patients, increase patient throughput and in the end could lead to saving lives."

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