Having mold in your home or business is bad news. It can cause health problems and structural damage. Fortunately, mold testing can help you locate the source of the problem.
A qualified home inspector usually performs mold testing. Several different types of testing can be done.
Air Samples
Air sampling, such as the one conducted by Pure Maintenance Nevada, collects data on mold spores present in the air. This data is then sent to a lab for analysis. The test aids in identifying if a home has high levels of spores and can determine the genus types of mold present. However, it cannot identify the species of mold and, therefore, cannot reveal if the mold is toxic or pathogenic.
Several methods are used for collecting an air sample, including spore traps, cassette samplers, and Malt Agar plates. The most common tool is the spore trap, which uses a pump to force air through a collection device that catches mold spores on a sticky tape.
An air sample can be taken in any house area where visual, non-invasive inspection reveals moisture intrusion or water damage, musty odors, apparent mold growth, or conditions conducive to mold growth. However, an air sample is insufficient to confirm or refute the existence of a mold problem. It should always be combined with other data collection methods, such as a surface sample.
Surface Samples
Surface samples are essential in determining the types and severity of any visible mold growth. They may be collected via a tape lift or sterile swab on the suspect surface(s) and sent to a lab for analysis.
These results will provide information regarding the genus and species of the recovered molds. This is a much more detailed result than an air sample, which can only determine whether or not spores are present on a surface.
A swab test can also be used to identify any other contaminants that may be present in the suspect material. This can be very useful for those wishing to know what other types of mold they may be exposed to when breathing the air in the home. A swab can take longer to process than a tape lift but can provide more in-depth information. Q-tips and other nonsterile swabs are not a good option for sampling surfaces; they often have things on them already that can skew the results of an analysis.
Bulk Samples
A bulk sample is a material from a surface where mold growth is suspected. This can include a piece of drywall or wood framing, a scrap of carpet or fabric, or even an entire furniture item. This method is more invasive and must be performed with proper safety and protective gear. This will help ensure that live mold spores or dust particulates are not inadvertently spread throughout the home during sampling.
The bulk sample aims to identify the specific species of mold growing at the surface being tested. This can be done through a swab sample, tape lift, or cavity sample. These samples are analyzed under a microscope to determine the genus of the mold that is present.
This type of sampling does not determine if the mold is toxic. However, it will give a good indication of how far the contamination may have spread. For that reason, it is generally recommended to also collect an air sample in conjunction with a bulk sample.
Reports
Most mold tests are limited in what they can do and what they can tell us. Skilled investigators know these limitations and don’t rely on testing for every investigation or use it as a substitute for thorough visual inspection.
An invisible complex mixture of mold particles naturally exists in all occupied indoor spaces. However, when these particles accumulate indoors, they can cause health problems and structural damage. Mold testing can help identify problem areas by providing a snapshot of the amount of a particular type of mold present at the time and location of sample collection.
Test results typically include a column for Raw Count and another column that states the Count per Cubic Meter of Air or Surface (Count/M3). The report should also list the types of mold present and a Mold Score. This number is a relative measure that indicates the percentage of live mold in the sample. For example, a high number may indicate excessive amounts of toxic molds like Stachybotrys and Memnoniella attached to water-damaged cellulose and produce mycotoxins.
