Diagnosis of snake envenomation using a simple phospholipase A2 assay

Diagnosis of snake envenomation is challenging but critical for deciding on antivenom use. Phospholipase A(2) enzymes occur commonly in snake venoms and we hypothesized that phospholipase activity detected in human blood post-bite may be indicative of envenomation. Using a simple assay, potentially a bedside test, we detected high phospholipase activity in sera of patients with viper and elapid envenomation compared to minimal activity in non-envenomed patients.