Image: Alejandro Solórzano - Costa Rica
Network of Public Laboratories Producing Antivenoms (RELAPA)
In 2018, under the coordination of PANAFTOSA/VPH-PAHO/WHO, the Latin American Network of Public Laboratories Producing Antivenoms (RELAPA) was established to promote the exchange of information and cooperation among laboratories.
The objective of RELAPA is to expand the availability and accessibility of effective and safe antivenoms, including for countries that do not have their own national production laboratories or where the production of certain antivenoms by a single laboratory is insufficient to meet national demand.
Currently, nine countries in the region (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela) have thirteen public laboratories that produce and distribute antivenoms against venoms from various poisonous animals.
Since its creation, several activities have been carried out within the framework of RELAPA, among which the organization of regular technical and strategic seminars stands out. The objective of these virtual meetings is to foster the exchange of experiences and discussions among the laboratories.
The topics addressed in the technical seminars correspond to the chapters of the WHO Guidelines for the Production, Control and Regulation of Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulins..
