Reptile & Amphibian Forums

1.)Where can one obtain it, 2.)standard cost per unit, 3.)shelf life and 4.)determining sensitivity/allergy. I'm primarily interested in Atrox application but also wondering if it is effective for copperhead bites as well. Thanks for any info and sorry if this subject has been asked/answered before.
~Lance

Hi Lance:

It'd really not very practical to keep a stock of your own CrofFab since it's commonly available at local hospitals where snakebite is seen.

1) You need a Doc's perscription to special order it from a local Pharmacy, who will add to the base price of $1650.00. It's shelf life is 3 to 5 years depending on storage.

2) The minimum useful amount you would need for a minimal envenomation is 6 vial, very costly! A simple bite has been know to cost in the range of $30,000 where as a bad bite may cost $100,000 just for the CroFab alone.

3) It does neutralize venom from C. atrox & Agkistrodon snakes. If I were tagged by a Copperhead I would adopt a wait & see attitude about taking Crofab for the bite. I would let the Doctors address the sensitivity question at the hospital. Don't even think about self-injection of antivenom!!

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You can't enjoy your collection if it kills you.

Man that is costly! And is it true that most insurance won't cover snake bites if they are "pets" or you are bit while catching one?

"I was just collecting firewood and didn't see that yearling female Crotalus atrox, Doctor!"

my last bite cost 5o,000 insurince paid most and i had no antivenon i am allergic to it i am also hypersensitive to venom from too many bites just working with can cause me to brake out in hives and other systematic involvment insure your self and your collection to at least 300,000 for any mistakes just in case

If I were to own a crotalid specie and I knew for a fact that there was 1 crotalid specie (no matter how rare) native to my state... could I blame the bite on the wild native animal and the insurance would cover it.. on the flip side would they care if I said I was bittin by my pet and not pay for anything?

Patrick:

First of all what you were describing is called Insurance Fraud, it is illegal and unethical.

Yes, they might care since they would be out of a lot of $$. Since they live by the bottom line here in America, they would be very interested in finding a reason NOT to pay the bill.

Al
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The reason congressmen try so hard to get re-elected is that they would hate to have to live under the laws they've passed.

..from the insurer's point of view: TO MAKE MONEY!! It has nothing to do with covering your behind, or being there in case of some accident. That purpose went out longgggggg ago.

CEO's of large insurance companies make Oprah type money........like 200-300 million a year. Just think Matt, with that kind of money we could easily buy out Pataki and still have some cash left over for some herps. I think I'm going to go back to school and get a degree in CEOing.