Developing Consensus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to Evaluate New Types of Insecticide-Treated Nets

Area of Science:

• Vector control
• Entomology
• Public health

Background:

• Pyrethroid-only insecticides are losing effectiveness in controlling disease vectors.
• Next-generation insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) with dual active ingredients or synergists are being developed.
• Standardized methods are needed to assess the biological durability of these new ITNs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a consensus standard operating procedure (SOP) for monitoring the biological durability of next-generation ITNs.
• To collate and interrogate various methods for assessing AI and synergist durability.
• To ensure consistent and reliable evaluation of new ITN products.

Main Methods:

• A pipeline was developed to collect and analyze data from different durability assessment methods.
• Multiple methods were interrogated to establish a consensus approach.
• The focus was on three types of next-generation ITNs: pyrethroid + piperonyl butoxide (PBO), pyrethroid + pyriproxyfen (PPF), and pyrethroid + chlorfenapyr (CFP).

Main Results:

• A singular consensus standard operating procedure (SOP) was produced.
• The SOP integrates multiple methods for comprehensive durability monitoring.
• Methodologies for assessing the biological durability of PBO, PPF, and CFP ITNs were aligned.

Conclusions:

• The developed SOP provides a standardized approach for monitoring the biological durability of next-generation ITNs.
• This standardization is crucial for evaluating the sustained effectiveness of new vector control tools.
• Aligning methodologies will support the reliable deployment and impact assessment of innovative ITNs.