Efficacy Studies

Home > Efficacy Studies

ICR has a robust testing facility, offering a wide range of testing services. The following sections detail some of our core competencies. Please note that obtaining approval from EPA and the HSRB to conduct any studies with human test subjects adds a considerable length of lead time before any of these studies can be conducted. ICR has obtained approval to conduct repellent studies and approval of final study reports from EPA and the HSRB.

Direct Spray - Knockdown

Direct spray treatments consist of spraying a number of insects from a relatively close distance. This type of application is used on several different species. Data for these studies may be recorded at any desired interval, however +1 and 24 hours are frequently requested. Knockdown readings of KD50, KD90 and KD100 can be taken on all direct spray treatments, as well as for other studies, to determine speed of action. Readings can be taken as "real time" or by probit analysis when appropriate.

Knockdown studies may also be conducted on wasps and hornets. Nests of bald-faced hornets and aerial yellow jackets are collected from the wild to provide knockdown evaluations of 'wasp & hornet' sprays. Obtaining a nest is labor intensive and must be accomplished after dark, in protective clothing and usually in very humid conditions.

Repellent Studies

Repellent studies can be conducted both in laboratory and field settings.

Laboratory

Test volunteers place their treated forearms in an 8 cu ft cage for 5 minutes each one-half hour until the repellent fails to provide complete protection. Protection failure is normally defined as when two bites occur within 30 minutes of each other. The number of mosquitoes per cage ranges from 50-over 1000, depending on the study design. The naturally occuring repellents are normally evaluated using 50 mosquitoes. However, for synthetic repellents, such as DEET, we recommend 500.

Field

Field evaluations provide the most reliable data concerning product performance. Forearms and/or calves are treated and exposed to field populations while all other accessible body areas where organisms can penetrate are covered. The criteria for failure are generally the same as in the laboratory.

ICR can provide large numbers of volunteers at locations throughout the continental United States as well as outside the U.S. We have conducted repellent studies in Maine, Florida, Oregon, Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota and Panama on mosquitoes, ceratopogonids, sand flies and black flies.

Commonly tested:

Mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus in the lab; various native species in the field)
Black flies
Ceratopogonids

Fogging

Our facility is equipped with a 6000 ft3 chamber which simulates the room size commonly found on product labels. One commonly tested fogger is an ultra-low volume sprayer (ULV). Insects may be containerized and placed into the chamber. The room is then 'fogged' at the applicable rate.

The chamber is equipped to regulate temperature and humidity, maintaining optimal environmental conditions for particular organisms. An observation window allows timing of aerosol discharges and observation of specimens. The chamber is lined with plastic sheeting to facilitate clean up and to prevent contamination from the products tested.

Commonly tested:

Mosquitoes
Cockroaches
Bed bugs

Note: Almost any organism can be tested.

Residual Application

Substrates are treated and aged for different periods of time. They may be aged indoors to imitate conditions inside or they may be aged outdoors to show effects of environmental conditions over time. Examples of both conditions follow:
Aging indoors: Roaches may be forced to remain in contact with an aged treated surface or have the choice of coming in contact with the surface. Data is normally recorded at 24 hours but other intervals can be used.

Aging outdoors: Window screen can be treated with a formulation and then aged for six months by hanging them outdoors. The screens will provide a treated substrate upon which flies and mosquitoes are forced into contact at monthly intervals. Time to knockdown and mortality are recorded. Many different substrates can be used.

Commonly tested:

Cockroaches
Mosquitoes
Flies

Light Traps

Light traps are used to evaluate attractiveness to lighting (typically UV) and their ability to catch and contain house flies. Our 6000 cu ft chamber is used to evaluate light traps using free-flying flies or mosquitoes. Typically, the traps are activated, the insects are released and the overhead lights are cycled on and off for periods of time as specified by the client. At the end of the operating interval all specimens are counted and a percentage captured calculated. Each operational period represents a replication.

Commonly tested:

Mosquitoes
House flies
Most any flying insect

Baits

Baits are used to evaluate attractiveness and mortality. Baits are placed in containers with the target species and mortality counts are taken at regular intervals, normally for 30 days.

Commonly tested:

Ants
Cockroaches

* Ant bait evaluations involving only workers have not been effective. The feeding stimulus diminishes when the workers do not have the queen or brood to care for. Baits can only be evaluated using whole colonies rather than isolated workers, which is why the Pharaoh ant is ideal. Colonies of this species can easily be budded into daughter colonies to provide replicates for a test.

* Cockroach baits are relatively easy to evaluate and are readily available, using either sex or mixed ratios of sexes.

Body Louse Testing

The body louse is the surrogate species for testing products targetted at the head louse. ICR has maintained the only commercially-available body louse colony in North America for almost 30 years. Many head louse control products had their initial evaluation on ICR's body lice. Our system allows clients to screen and evaluate formulations much cheaper and faster than conducting clinical studies with head lice. Precise numbers of even-age lice or eggs can be tested at ICR.

ICR developed the ASTM standard protocols for evaluating louse control products for adults (E 938-83) and eggs (E1517-93). After performing the ASTM standard exposures, the adults/eggs are transferred to petri dishes and incubated for either 24 hours (adults) or 14 days (eggs). Mortality readings are then taken.

We are also experienced at performing louse comb efficacy studies, fomite studies and in vitro repellent studies.

Commonly tested:

Body louse

Flushing

Flushing is primarily used on cockroaches. Many cockroach formulations contain flushing agents that serve to force the cockroaches out of their hiding places, thus increasing their exposure to the insecticide. Flushing is evaluated by the number of cockroaches emerging from the tower for up to 10 minutes after the treatment.
Commonly used:

Cockroaches (any species available)