Insecticide-treated nets
Pyrethroid-only, PBO, chlorfenapyr, pyriproxyfen, dual active ingredient nets, efficacy and wash durability
Evaluation services
From cone tests to randomised trials across whole villages, five types of study to prove a product works.
Five types of study
Products we evaluate
Indoor residual spraying
Residual formulations, including clothianidin and broflanilide, duration of action on local walls, combinations with nets
Attractive targeted sugar baits
Attraction, feeding and mortality, in huts and semi-field systems
Housing interventions
EaveTubes, window screening, lethal house lures
Larvicides
Breeding sites and dry-season strategies alongside nets
Treated fabrics and materials
Insecticide-treated materials, including military uniforms, and their effect on mosquitoes
Topical repellents
Efficacy of repellents applied to the skin
The trial calendar
Hut trials follow the mosquito peaks, in the long then the short rainy season. Laboratory and semi-field tests run all year round thanks to the insectary colonies.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June, mosquito peak, hut trials
- July, mosquito peak, hut trials
- August
- September
- October, mosquito peak, hut trials
- November, mosquito peak, hut trials
- December
From phase I to III
The centre runs phase I and II evaluations under GLP, and phase III community trials. Chemical analysis of products can be subcontracted, with your agreement, to accredited laboratories, while the centre remains responsible for the study and the report.
- Phase ILaboratory
WHO cone and tunnel tests, tube and bottle tests, knock-down, mortality, wash resistance, bioassays suited to the product.
- Phase IISemi-field
Experimental huts, semi-field systems, efficacy on treated surfaces and entomological parameters under the relevant protocols.
- Phase IIIField and community
Efficacy under conditions of use, operational performance, acceptability, durability and longitudinal follow-up depending on the product type.
Indicative landmarks. The phase I to III labels do not replace current WHO prequalification requirements.
WHO guidelines
The reference documents for evaluating a product, in the laboratory, in semi-field systems and in the field. Each link opens the official WHO source.
By product family
- WHO Guideline for the prequalification assessment of insecticide-treated nets (new tab)
Insecticide-treated nets, from the laboratory to community studies, with its implementation guidance
2023Current
- Guidelines for laboratory and field testing of long-lasting insecticidal nets (new tab)
Former WHOPES guide for nets, laboratory, semi-field and field studies
2013Historical
- Guidelines for testing mosquito adulticides for indoor residual spraying and treatment of mosquito nets (new tab)
Indoor residual spraying
2006Historical
2005Historical
- Guidelines for efficacy testing of spatial repellents (new tab)
Spatial repellents
2013Historical
- Guidelines for efficacy testing of mosquito repellents for human skin (new tab)
Skin-applied repellents
2009Historical
- Guidelines for efficacy testing of insecticides for indoor and outdoor ground-applied space spray applications (new tab)
Space spraying
2009Historical
- Guidelines for efficacy testing of household insecticide products (new tab)
Coils, emanators, vaporizers and aerosols
2009Historical
- Guidelines for laboratory and field testing of molluscicides for control of schistosomiasis (new tab)
Molluscicides, schistosomiasis control
2019Current
- Guidelines for testing the efficacy of insecticide products used in aircraft (new tab)
Aircraft disinfection
2012Current
Test methods for nets
2024Current
2024Current
2023Current
- Implementation guidance, Experimental hut method (new tab)
Experimental huts
2023Current
- Implementation guidance, Semi-field studies (new tab)
Semi-field studies
2026Current
- Implementation guidance, Long-term community studies for ITNs (new tab)
Durability and efficacy of nets over three years of routine use
2026Current
Insecticide resistance
- Manual for monitoring insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors and selecting appropriate interventions (new tab)
Tests, monitoring and interpretation of resistance
2022Current
2022Current
- Standard operating procedure for testing insecticide susceptibility of adult mosquitoes in WHO bottle bioassays (new tab)
Bottle bioassays
2022Current
- Standard operating procedure for impregnation of filter papers for testing insecticide susceptibility of adult mosquitoes in WHO tube tests (new tab)
Filter paper impregnation
2022Current
General framework
- WHO guidelines for malaria (new tab)
WHO recommendations on malaria interventions
2026Current
"Historical" marks an older edition, which WHO still lists for most of these product families. Current prequalification requirements depend on the product type and its claims, and a novel product may require deviations from these guidelines. These links are documentary references and do not amount to approval of a study protocol.
How a study works
- 1The request
You describe the product, its active ingredient and the target stage. A kick-off meeting sets objectives, deliverables, timeline and contacts.
- 2The protocol
A study plan in line with WHO guidelines, approved by the centre and by you before work starts.
- 3The GLP study
A study director runs it under quality assurance oversight. You are kept informed at every stage, deviations included.
- 4The report
Results, statistics, deviations and quality assurance statement, reviewed by the study director, quality assurance and management.
- 5The dossier
Data ready for WHO prequalification and regulators. The efficacy module of the dossier brings together laboratory, semi-field and field studies.
Commissioned studies are run under a confidentiality agreement.