>We don't really know what we are testing or
what we are not testing (by a pin/freezing test).

I would say the above is the complicated version.

The simple version is plain and simple. How long does it take a hive to
clear the dead brood.

Although the Sweden test results for the freezing method & pin method are
similar they are not identical.

We get almost identical results when two separate freeze tests are done days
apart on the same hive.

If the tests done in Sweden were repeated in a few days  would the pin
method be almost the same as the first?

The inconsistency in two pin tests as opposed to the consistency of two
freeze tests is what has raised the question of the accuracy of the pin
test.

I think you might agree that the freeze test is considered the most reliable
by researchers at this point in time?

> And it's much faster, less labor intensive and makes possible to compute
exact numbers (comparable data).

Most believe the freeze test is faster when a piece of PVC pipe and liquid
nitrogen  is used to instantly freeze kill the brood?

See my article on Russian bees in the January 2005 Bee Culture for a picture
of the liquid nitrogen method only a tin can is used instead of PVC in the
picture.

Granted the old Steve Tabor cutting of a section & placing in the freezer
and then replacing in the hive would take longer than the pin prick.

Bob

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