Insecticide Quantification Kit
IQK
Bednets and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) are major control measures in the fight against malaria and other diseases carried by insects.
Apart from carrying out logistically complex and unreliable bioassays in the field, the only way to check that protection is being provided by a spray or treatment intervention is to measure the actual amount of insecticide residue remaining.
Such information is also important for local manufacturers of bednets who are now moving into the production of more technically complex Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs). Currently, the level of insecticide has to be measured using gas chromatography or high performance liquid chromatography. These methods are expensive and technically demanding, requiring skilled staff and sophisticated laboratory and insectary facilities.
This project is producing simple, cost-effective and user-friendly kits for monitoring insecticide residues on insecticide-treated materials and surfaces. We now have a pipeline of simple kits for a range of relevant insecticides (including pyrethroids, carbamates and DDT), some of which are in the final stage of development and are currently being field trialled. Work is also continuing to broaden the usability of the test kits both in terms of application and products detected.
This IVCC funded development is being undertaken by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Crete.