What is a disadvantage of mosquito testing?

• A. It is labor intensive and expensive
• B. It provides immediate results
• C. It is inexpensive
• D. It eliminates the need for traps

Answer: (A)

Testing mosquitoes for pathogens is a powerful surveillance approach, but it comes with significant resource demands. To get meaningful data, teams must set and monitor traps across geographic areas, collect and preserve the specimens properly, and often identify species before testing. In the lab, samples go through sensitive assays (like PCR or antigen tests) that require specialized equipment, trained technicians, quality control, and safety protocols. All of this drives up both labor and expense.

Because of these steps, results aren’t instant; field collection and laboratory processing can take days or weeks, depending on workload and testing capacity. And traps are a core part of the process, since they are the primary way to obtain enough mosquitoes for reliable testing. So the need for ongoing field work, lab analysis, and associated costs makes mosquito testing inherently labor-intensive and expensive, which is why that option stands out as the main disadvantage.