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Toxic Mold and Toxic Gas Testing Methods Compared - valid vs. invalid methods, recommendations MoldAPedia ©

Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com What to do about mold - key articles Air tests for mold - key articles on methods & validity Surface, tape, & bulk tests for mold - key articles on methods & validity Culture tests for mold - key article on validity Tests for gases in buildings - articles on methods & validity Mold lab procedure articles Indoor air and toxic mold investigation report guidelines

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What to do about mold - some key references

Mold Information Center: What to do about mold in buildings, when and how to inspect and clean up mold - detailed in-depth articles, well organized, researched. Taking a broad approach involves a site and building examination for probable sources of moisture, bioaerosols, other allergens, as well as dangerous conditions such as obviously blocked chimneys. This group of links outlines what to do about mold, when to hire a professional, and how to look for mold in buildings. Mold Action Guide: an easy step-by-step outline of what to do about mold, how to including what mold looks like indoors then test, and then clean mold, mold testing, mold remediation / mold cleanup guidelines, mold prevention, building-related illness, mold inspection, more mold advice. Mold Sampling Methods in the Indoor Environment an in-depth critique of popular mold testing methods -- Is your "expert" using valid methods? Is your mold test kit worth the bother?

Air Sampling Equipment & Mold Testing Protocols

Air sampling equipment includes some useful, expensive tools, but if used alone, air sampling is not reliable for characterization of building conditions:

• Validity of Air Samples as Mold Tests to characterize indoor air and what are the limitations of this method?
• Burkard personal air sampler used by many residential investigators
• Identification of Aero-allergens using the Burkard Spore Trap by D. Berman
• Other residential building sampling equipment e.g. at the Burkard website
• Alternative, low-cost air sampling equipment and methods such as the mini-vacuum pump and Zefon canisters
• Allergenco time-lapse impaction air sampling equipment - study changes in particle dispersion under varying conditions (furnace on/off)
• Protocols for Investigation of Indoor Airborne Fungal Amplifiers, R.C. Summerbell

Bulk & Surface Tape Sampling Mold Testing Protocols

This photo shows some sampling devices we used in comparing the effectiveness of vacuuming a couch to test thick upholstered furnishings for mold contamination. We collected comparison samples using different collecting devices as well as by using adhesive tape, for laboratory analysis. Vacuuming furniture to test for mold contamination may be useful for general qualitiative assessment when an expert has examined the building and its content. Quantitative analysis of such samples is questionable.

Tape to collect mold or other surface sampling methods provide useful, inexpensive tools which, combined with careful visual inspection, are reliable and inexpensive for characterization of building conditions. Particles collected are very useful for genera and often mold species identification.

• Bulk & Tape Samples: Tape lift from mold-covered surfaces; scrapes onto microscope slide and other methods also used by do-it-yourselfers and by experts
• How to prepare and send a mold sample to our laboratory
• Wall Check type vacuum pump and canister permits "sampling" of mold and allergens in wall, ceiling, and floor cavities but our direct field testing indicates that this method is highly unreliable. Working with Louis Relle, a Louisiana mold remediation expert on a New Orleans building which was to be demolished we collected wall-check samples from every suspect building cavity. When the building interior surfaces were demolished we then performed a visual inspection and collected bulk surface samples using tape. The wall check samples were completely unable to detect large and significant mold contamination in the cavities of this building. We postulate that even with mechanical agitation (banging on the wall during wall check sampling) the flow rate of the sampling method does not move enough air to reliably pick up surface contamination unless the mold genera/species happens to be at a particularly high state of active sporulation. The tool remains in the professional's arsenal, to be used with discretion.
• Vacuum samples of carpeting, drapes, furniture, clothing permits testing for mold contamination. We use this method for screening of areas where mold is not visible, and in clearance testing.

Cultures, Swabs, "Home Test Kits" Mold Testing Protocols

This link describes the testing limitations or INVALIDITY of these methods for determining what contaminants are in a building

Sampling for gases in buildings

Toxic or irritating gases such as mold-produced VOC's, MVOC's, or other odors, toxic chemicals, and combustion products can be important as life-safety concerns may be involved. Unfortunately no single test or tool can detect all possible building contaminants. We use methods and equipment which can test for common contaminants. If the identity of a specific contaminant is known in advance we can also test for a very large number of specific contaminant gases in buildings. We use gas sampling equipment provided by the two most reliable companies in the world, Draeger-Safety's detector-tubes and Drager accuro™ bellows pump, the Gastec™ cylinder pump and detector-tube system produced by Gastec or Sensidyne, and we also use Sensidyne's Gilian air pump. For broad screening for combustibles and a number of other toxic gases and for leak tracing we also use Amprobe's Tif8850. All of these instruments, their applications, and sensitivities (minimum detectable limits) for specific gases are described in our Gas Sampling Plan online document.

Our Indoor Gas Sampling Plan for Residential Buildings describes gas testing procedures, instruments, detection limits, and it lists some of the toxic (or other) indoor gases for which we can test, depending on the building complaint and building conditions.

Good Mold Testing Laboratory and Microscope Procedures

This link describes proper mold testing laboratory procedures, and sample processing not by a "supervised" technician but by a qualified expert are critical in making sense of field samples. Competent, trained, experienced aerobiologists, mycologists, and microbiologists can identify sample contents with good accuracy. Depending on the experience of the laboratory, it is also possible to interpret the meaning of the sample for the building and its occupants. Laboratory professionals who have also performed the field inspection can make useful be less useful for building occupants and owners.

Indoor Air / Toxic Mold Investigation Reports

This link provides a document outlining what to look for in a toxic mold field investigation report or mold test laboratory report. We've been troubled that some very costly "mold investigators" simply collect a few air, culture, or swab samples, toss them over to a mold testing lab, and give their clients the lab report. A valid and useful mold investigation needs to include a detailed visual inspection to identify problem sources, the presence and extent of a mold or other problem reservoir, and then it needs to provide the supporting lab work to justify what may be a costly cleanup (i.e. let's not spend a lot cleaning up "cosmetic" mold). The end product of the investigation needs to include the following

• Where are the problem mold or other reservoirs in the building?
• What is the extent of cleanup needed? Exactly where are the problems actually located?
• What do lab results indicate about toxicity, allergenicity, medical implications of potential exposure, and the need for expert cleaning services?
• What needs to be changed or fixed on the building to prevent a recurrence of the original problem?

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More Information on Indoor Air Quality, Environmental Testing, & Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

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