Cross-reactivity of bardick snake venom with death adder antivenom

A case of a young man who was bitten by a bardick snake (Notechis curtus) and who, apart from marked local swelling, had neither signs of coagulopathy nor neurological symptoms, is reported. The bardick snake venom taken from the site of the bite reacted strongly with the death adder antivenom in the snake venom detection kit, but did not react with the Notechis antivenom. This anomalous reactivity was confirmed when dried bardick snake venom was used. In-vitro observations of the bardick snake venom showed that it had anticoagulant properties similar to those of death adder venom, and was not procoagulant as are the venoms of other snakes of the Notechis genus. The clinical importance of these findings is discussed.