Pan American Health Organization · 2019
Infrastructure, equipment and biosafety standards for establishing vector surveillance laboratory networks at national, intermediate and local levels.
- Issuer
- Pan American Health Organization
- Edition
- 2019
- Audience
- Vector control programme managers, entomologists, laboratory directors, ministry of health planners
- Evidence
- Expert consensus based on established laboratory standards and biosafety requirements
- Reviewed
- 21 Oct 2026 · GMJ
What this guideline says
GMJ summary
This document provides comprehensive technical guidance for countries to establish and structure public health entomology laboratory networks to support vector-borne disease surveillance and control. It describes a three-tiered system: Level I (national/central) laboratories with capacity for all entomological tests including insecticide resistance testing and colony maintenance; Level II (intermediate/provincial) laboratories performing most activities; and Level III (basic/local) laboratories conducting routine specimen collection and identification.
The guidelines detail infrastructure requirements including biosafety levels 1–3 depending on activities, specific room layouts for insectariums with temperature and humidity control, and specialized spaces for handling insects exposed to insecticides versus clean specimens. Equipment specifications are provided for each laboratory level, from basic microscopes and incubators at Level III to biochemical testing equipment, ELISA readers, and -80°C freezers at Level I.
Emphasis is placed on biosafety in insectariums, requiring double-door air chambers, sealed environments to prevent insect escape, separate areas for infected versus uninfected specimens, and proper ventilation. The document supports countries in assessing needs and strengthening entomology networks, particularly important where vector-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya, malaria and leishmaniasis pose significant public health burdens.
Key points
For clinicians — doses and thresholds as stated in the guideline
- Level I (central) laboratories require insectariums, biochemical testing capacity including ELISA readers, -80°C freezers, and facilities for biological, biochemical and molecular insecticide resistance testing
- Level II (intermediate) laboratories need insectariums, capacity for biological insecticide resistance testing, specimen identification, and supervision of Level III facilities
- Level III (basic) laboratories require minimum equipment: stereoscopic and bacteriological microscopes, BOD incubators, and capacity for specimen collection and identification
- Insectariums must have double-door vestibules (air chambers) with exhaust fans, at least 2.5-meter ceilings, separate rooms for larvae and adults, and sealed electrical/plumbing to prevent insect escape
- Biosafety levels 1–2 apply to most entomology work; level 3 required for infectious activities; separate areas mandatory for material exposed versus not exposed to insecticides
- Minimum bench heights: 0.90 m for standing work, 0.75 m for seated work, with minimum 0.70 m depth and non-porous, seamless surfaces
- Essential field collection materials by level: Level I (1,000 ovitraps, 30 BG sentinel traps, 20 CDC traps), Level II (500 ovitraps, 10 BG sentinel traps, 20 CDC traps), Level III (200 ovitraps, 6 BG sentinel traps, 10 CDC traps)
- All windows that open require insect-proof screens; biosafety Level 3 laboratories must use fixed, sealed safety glass windows
Equipment and furnishings for the biochemical testing room
Table extracted from the guideline
| Equipment | Level I Laboratory | Level II Laboratory |
|---|---|---|
| Split air conditioner | 1 | 1 |
| Magnetic agitator | 1 | 1 |
| Precision laboratory balance | 1 | 1 |
| Bench | 2 | 1 |
| Above-bench shelving | 1 | 1 |
| Bench with two sinks | 1 | 1 |
| Vacuum pump | 1 | 1 |
| Refrigerator | 1 | 1 |
| Vertical freezer -80°C | 1 | 1 |
| Cooler | 1 | 1 |
| Printer | 1 | 1 |
| ELISA microplate reader | 1 | 1 |
| Pedal macerator | 1 | 1 |
| Manual macerator | 1 | 1 |
| Ice machine | 1 | 1 |
| Micro centrifuges | 1 | 1 |
| Microcomputer | 1 | 1 |
| pH meter | 1 | 1 |
| Mono-channel pipette | 2 | 2 |
| Multichannel pipette | 2 | 2 |
| Chair | 2 | 2 |
| Lab bench chair | 2 | 2 |
| Milli-Q water ultra-purification system | 1 | 1 |
| Vortex mixer | 2 | 1 |
Source: Pan American Health Organization, Guidelines for the Structure of Public Health Entomology Laboratories. Reproduced in summary form.
From the guideline
Verbatim
“To carry out entomological surveillance, infrastructure is necessary at different levels of the network. The network should include basic laboratories at the local level, as well as laboratories capable of performing more complex tests.”
Editor’s perspective
Why this matters for Georgia and the region
Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal · Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · WHO consultant, health and migration
As Georgia considers strengthening its vector surveillance capacity in the context of climate change and cross-border disease risks, these PAHO guidelines offer a practical framework for establishing infrastructure appropriate to our epidemiological context. Rather than immediately pursuing a full Level I laboratory, I would recommend Georgian public health authorities first establish a well-equipped Level II facility at the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health with insectarium capacity for Aedes and Phlebotomine sand fly colonies, biological insecticide resistance testing, and molecular identification capabilities. The guidelines' emphasis on separating clean from insecticide-exposed specimens and infected from uninfected materials reflects lessons learned that would prevent costly infrastructure mistakes. One realistic challenge for Georgia will be recruiting and retaining trained entomologists, as the document's infrastructure recommendations must be matched with sustained investment in human capacity development through partnerships with regional reference laboratories in Turkey or European centres of excellence.
ORCID 0000-0001-7609-4515 · Perspective written for the GMJ Guidelines Library, 21 Oct 2026
Applicability
Georgia and the South Caucasus
While Georgia has limited endemic transmission of major vector-borne diseases compared to tropical regions, the country faces emerging risks from climate change expanding vector habitats, cross-border movement from endemic areas in the South Caucasus and Middle East, and imported cases. The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health would benefit from establishing at least a Level II entomology laboratory with capacity for vector surveillance, particularly for potential Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) expansion into Georgia, Phlebotomine sand fly monitoring for leishmaniasis risk assessment along borders with Azerbaijan and Armenia, and capacity to rapidly characterize vectors during outbreak investigations. Regional coordination with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey for harmonized vector surveillance standards and insecticide resistance monitoring would strengthen preparedness across the South Caucasus. National programmes should prioritize establishing basic infrastructure and training entomologists before investing in advanced biochemical testing equipment.
Questions this guideline answers
Quick answers
What are the minimum requirements for a basic (Level III) entomology laboratory?
A Level III laboratory requires stereoscopic and bacteriological microscopes, BOD incubators, refrigerator, benches with sinks, chemical extraction hood, and capacity for specimen collection, identification, triage, and preparation for shipment to higher-level laboratories. It does not require an insectarium or biochemical testing equipment.
How should insectariums be designed to prevent insect escape?
Insectariums must have a single entrance with double-door vestibule (air chamber) equipped with exhaust fan, automatically closing doors that cannot open simultaneously, insect-proof screens on any windows, sealed electrical wiring and plumbing with no cracks, white walls/ceilings at least 2.5 meters high, and separate rooms for different life stages and infection status.
What biosafety levels apply to public health entomology laboratories?
Most entomology laboratories operate at biosafety levels 1 and 2; level 3 is required only for activities involving infectious agents. Critical requirements include separate areas for insects exposed versus not exposed to insecticides, separate areas for infected versus uninfected specimens, sealable rooms for fumigation when needed, and ventilation openings with mosquito-proof screens.
What equipment is needed for insecticide resistance testing?
Biological testing requires BOD incubators, thermo-hygrometers, precision balances, and pH meters. Biochemical testing adds ELISA microplate readers, -80°C freezers, centrifuges, macerators, Milli-Q water systems, and vortex mixers. Molecular testing capacity is typically only at Level I (central) laboratories or national reference laboratories.
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Quality & accreditation
- ASF Laboratory — Standard 1 — Governance & Document Control
- ASF Laboratory — Standard 6 — Pre-Examination: Specimen Pathway
- ASF Laboratory — Standard 7 — Examination: Process & Safety
- ASF Laboratory — Standard 8 — Post-Examination: Reporting & Critical Values
- ASF Hospital — Standard 5 — Safety & Emergency Preparedness
- ASF Hospital — Standard 11 — Critical Care
- ASF Medical Transport — Standard 6 — Emergency Response During Transport
Other guidelines on this topic
- Handbook for Integrated Vector Management in the Americas
- Good practices in traditional food markets in the Region of the Americas
- Framework for the Response of Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks to COVID-19
- Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfection of Homes without Suspected or Confirmed Cases, 8 May 2020
- PAHO Does Not Recommend Taking Products that Contain Chlorine Dioxide, Sodium Chlorite, Sodium Hypochlorite, or Derivatives
- Issuer
- Pan American Health Organization
- Type
- Procedures, manuals, guidelines
- Edition
- 2019
- Status
- Current
- Published
- 2019-01-01
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Scope
- Infrastructure, equipment, furniture and biosafety standards for public health entomology laboratories
- Audience
- Vector control programme managers, entomologists, laboratory directors, ministry of health planners
- Licence
- © PAHO 2019. All rights reserved.
- ISBN
- 978-92-75-12094-1
- Evidence
- Expert consensus based on established laboratory standards and biosafety requirements
- Record history
- Created 21 Oct 2026 · updated 21 Oct 2026 · next check Apr 2027
Pan American Health Organization. Guidelines for the Structure of Public Health Entomology Laboratories. Washington, D.C.: PAHO; 2019.GMJ Guidelines Library records are original summaries written by the GMJ editorial team from the issuer’s published document and reviewed by a physician. They do not replace the full guideline. The document is the copyright of its issuer and is linked, not hosted. Spotted an error or a newer edition? Tell the Guidelines Desk.
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