"They must use it as a last resort in the event of any exotic snakebite, or get it from a zoo or AV bank. Simply because there isn't a hospital that would keep anything but CroFab or Wyeth.
>>Neither of which would mean squat in the case of say, an urutu or rhino bite."

According to a couple of doctors that I know, hospitals here in Ohio all carry a variety of antivenins, including but not limited to crofab as you stated earlier. Most Ohio hospitals carry exotic snake antivenin as well, but they all usually carry different types instead of each hospital carrying ALL types of antivenin, they have a system set in place for the majority of snakebites. IF the nearest hospital, however, doesn't carry the particular antivenin that you are looking for (ex. Costa Rican Polivalent) then you can contact that hospital and request that they stock the antivenin, and you can pay for it. However, if there is a nearby hospital that already carries it, and you stock it yourself and bring it with you in the event of a bite, then they will refuse to use your antivenin and instead airlift you to the nearest hospital which already carries that particular type of antivenin.

Chris
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League
www.uappeal.org

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