A toxinologist is urging doctors to continue using the redback spider anti-venom despite a recent report by a Hunter researcher that found it does not work.

Calvary Mater Hospital toxicologist Geoff Isbister says a study involving more than 200 patients found there was no difference in the outcome of people treated with the anti-venom and those who weren't.

The research was presented at a major conference in Dubai this week.

But head of toxinology at the Adelaide Women and Children's Hospital Julian White says the research has not been peer reviewed and goes against clinical experience

Professor White says in his experience the anti-venom is quite effective.

"Dr Isbister's findings do not gel with a fairly vast clinical experience around the world including a very substantial experience here in Australia," he said.

"And I would expect most doctors to be hesitant to change a well-established and currently effective treatment regiment on the basis of a single piece of research from a single group."

Professor White says his hospital is contracted to the producer of the redback anti-venom, CSL, to provide advice to doctors on how to use it.

He warns people will suffer if doctors stop giving the redback anti-venom.

Professor White says in most cases the anti-venom dramatically shortens the period of time redback bite victims feel unwell.

"If doctors stopped using this anti-venom, then in my experience and certainly supported by the literature, we could expect many more patients to have prolonged periods of suffering from significant redback bites," he said.

"This is not really a major threat to life, however, it's not the same as snake bite.

"People are not likely to die from redback envenoming."