Table 1.

Summary of the in vitro and ex vivo assays that have shown correlation with in vivo toxic activities of snake venoms in the assessment of the neutralizing ability of antivenoms.

Type of assay	Applications
Enzyme immunoassays (EIA)	Correlation with neutralization of lethality in some venoms and purified toxins
Passive hemagglutination	Correlation with neutralization of lethality in some venoms
Phospholipase A2 activity	Correlation with neutralization of lethality in some venoms
In vitro coagulant activity on plasma	Correlation with neutralization of lethality in some venoms. Correlation with defibrinogenating activity
Proteinase activity	Correlation with neutralization of hemorrhagic activity in some venoms
Cytotoxic activity on cells in culture	Possible correlation with neutralization of myotoxic and dermonecrotic activities of venoms*
Nerve-muscle preparations for assessing neuromuscular blockade	Possible correlation with neutralization of lethal and neurotoxic activities of venoms and isolated neurotoxins*
Binding to nicotinic acetyl choline receptors	Correlation with the neutralization of the lethal activity in venoms rich in post-synaptically acting α-neurotoxins
Antivenomics	Correlation with the neutralization of toxic components identified in venoms through proteomics and the toxicity score (toxicovenomics)

*In these cases, there have not been studies correlating observations in vitro and in vivo on the neutralization of these toxic activities; however, based on the mechanism of action of myotoxins, cytotoxins and neurotoxins, such correlation is highly likely.