Table 1 Design characteristics of the WHO cone test, WHO tunnel test and I-ACT

Diagram

Endpoints measured

Knock down (KD 60), 24-h mortality

12-h mortality, 24-h mortality, feeding inhibition

12-h mortality, 24-h mortality, feeding inhibition

Infrastructure required

Temperature controlled room, boards, aspirators, cones, insect rearing facilities

Temperature controlled room, tunnel, aspirators, insect rearing facilities, animal rearing facilities

Ambient or temperature controlled chambers, temperature controlled holding room, aspirators, insect rearing facilities

Bait used

No

Rabbit, guinea pig

Human

Mosquitoes per net

80

100

30

Exposure time

3 min

12–15 h

12 h

Holding time

24 h

None

24 h

Time to conduct including preparation

25 h

16 h

26 h

Surface area exposed to mosquitoes

78 cm²

625 cm²

145,200 cm²

Useful for durability monitoring

Measures presence of insecticide

Measures mortality and feeding inhibition on a small section of net

Measures the functional efficacy of nets under user conditions

Useful for non-inferiority testing

Not suitable for some ITN products

Works for all ITNs

Works for all ITNs