>What is the accuracy of the VHS?

I'd rather that Medhat answer, but the technique appears to wash off
virtually all the mites.  Hard to tell, since you would have to inspect each
and every washed bee with a lens to determine.  However, the alcohol wash
has a long, and well-established history as an accurate indicator.

  >What is the minimum shaking time?

I hate to speak for Medhat, but I believe that he found that 20 shakes was
adequate.

 >Do the bees survive normally after or are they damaged?

The bees are killed almost immediately.  Alternatively, you could use the
powdered sugar shake, in which the bees are not killed, but according to
data from Dr. Marion Ellis, and from my own tests, it only dislodges about
70% of mites.  However, Dr. Marla Spivak contends that sugar can dislodge a
much higher percentage.

As Kirk says, the important point is to get used to any method as an
indicator.

Randy Oliver

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