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Mold Testing Services In Saskatchewan

Like in most other Canadian provinces, mold is a problem in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Health and the Occupational Health and Safety Division of Saskatchewan Labour have developed a mold fact sheet for private residences, public buildings and workplaces available at the Saskatoon Health Region website. Mold testing services in Saskatchewan are offered by private small to medium-sized companies. These companies use Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) Inc., for mold laboratory testing. The microbiological team at MBL is actively directed by Dr. Jackson N. Kung’u, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. In over 30 years of practicing his profession, Dr. Kung’u has analyzed thousands of mold samples from across Canada. MBL is rated proficient by AIHA for EMPAT fungal culture and fungal direct microscopic examination of air, bulk and surface samples. The Environmental Microbiology Proficiency Analytical Testing (EMPAT) Program is a voluntary performance evaluation program, administered by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), for environmental microbiology laboratories.

Mold Testing Services In Saskatchewan

As mentioned earlier, there are many companies offering mold testing services in Saskatchewan. They provide mold assessment and mold removal services to individuals and institutions who are concerned about possible mold contamination. These clients have included homeowners, property mangers & landlords, Schools, Government Institutions, and many others.

Most Mold Testing Companies In Saskatchewan Offer the Following Services:

  • Indoor Air Mold Testing of Residences Affected by Flooding and Water Damage: Air samples may be taken to identify the presence of hidden mold. Water damage and flooding issues that have not been remediated soon enough, or in some cases not at all, can possibly lead to mold growth in hidden areas such as drywall and insulation.
  • Indoor Air Mold Testing Of Residences Involved in Marihuana Grow Operations: Mold testing services are provided to confirm that mold remediation and environmental restoration were performed properly and that acceptable conditions have been met.
  • Mold Assessment Services and Supplies For Contractors and Consultants: Instrument rentals and small quantities of sample media are supplied to contractors and consultants interested in performing their own mold assessments. The sample media is then taken to the Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) Inc., for analysis and results interpretation.

Mold Testing Strategies Employed By Mold Testing Companies

Residences are inspected for visible signs of mold and water damage, followed by interviews of the homeowners, to establish a guideline for the development of effective sampling strategies appropriate for each residence. Air samples are taken from both inside the house and outside to establish a comparison for results. Other samples may be taken if visible mold is suspected, such as bulk, tape or swab samples, to confirm mold growth and to identify the mold species present. Both the results from samples taken and interpretation are provided to the client to assist them in what may possibly be further mold investigation.

If you have a mold problem contact us at (905)290-9101 and we shall direct you to companies that can test the mold for you.

Taking Air Samples For Mold Testing: Settle Plate Method

A number of methods can be used to test air for mold or other microbial contamination. One of the oldest methods of testing air for microbial contamination is the settle plates method. Though the method is semi-quantitative, it is still considered a useful method. In industries such as food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics the method is used to assess the likely number of microorganisms depositing onto the product or surface in a given time. The method involves opening and exposing petri dishes containing agar medium suitable for growth of microorganisms of interest. If one is interested in testing for mold, agar plates containing malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with some antibiotics to suppress bacterial growth would be used. The agar plates are left open at table-top level at selected points in the room for half-hour to 4 hours. This allows mold spores and fragments to settle onto agar media by gravity. Mold test kits (involving growth media) are settle plates.

Settle Plates Results

The number of microorganisms deposited onto the agar surface of the plate over the period of exposure is determined by incubation of the agar plates at 25ºC for 5- 7 days and counting colonies that develop. The results can be expressed as number of colony forming units (CFUs) per unit time. The counted colonies can then be further characterised to genera or species. Higher numbers of CFUs and/or presence of potential pathogenic or toxigenic molds such Aspergillus fumigatus and Stachybotyrs chartarum are indicators of a problem.

Disadvantages of Settle Plates

Settle plate method is an extremely useful method for assessing air contamination by microorganisms. It is easy to conduct and very cost effective. However, only viable microorganisms would be detected by this method and hence it may give a false impression that the air is “clean” if most of the airborne microorgainisms are dead. False negatives may also be obtained from buildings with:

  • very restricted mold growths.
  • very still air in undisturbed rooms.
  • species of poorly culturable molds (e.g., Stachybotrys chartarum).
  • molds consisting of species with poor airborne dissemination (e.g., Aureobasidium on windowsills, Cladosporium on painted cold air vents, Fusarium and many other wet-spored fungi).

Mold Sampling And Identification Methods

Mold Sampling

The mold sampling method one chooses should be determined by the objective of the investigation. One may sample air or surfaces for mold contamination. The standard method for sampling air is to use a volumetric sampler e.g. RCS or Andersen N6 for viable airborne spores and hyphal fragments and Air-O-Cell, VersaTrap, Allergenco and others such cassettes for total spore counts. Testing of surfaces may involve use of RODAC agar plates for smooth surfaces, and swabs and adhesive tape on all other surfaces. It is important to note that adhesive tapes may not work well on wet and porous surfaces. Bulk samples can also be taken and plated onto agar plates or analysed by direct microscopic examination. Dust samples can be collect from surfaces such as carpets, upholstered furniture and textiles.

Media For Mold Sampling

It’s important to select media for mold sampling wisely. If one decides to collect viable air samples, the choice of media to use is very
important. Generally, malt extract agar (MEA) is used. It is a “broad spectrum” medium that supports the growth of a wide range of fungal species. However, antibiotics may have to be incorporated to surpress bacteria growth. Its main disadvantage is that fast growing molds tend to overgrow slow growers making it difficult to count colonies. To overcome this problem, DG18 and Rose Bengal can be used. These media have compounds added to them to slow down fast growing fungi and inhibit bacterial growth. If one is sampling a relatively dry environment, MEA+40% sucrose would be recommended for detecting xerophilic (dry loving) fungi.

Mold Identification

Currently, the only reliable means for routine identification of mold species is to perform traditional mycological methods. This requires years of training and practice. Be sure to use a lab that has a qualified Mycologist on-board (preferably at PhD level). The lab should also be regularly participating in a recognised proficiency testing program such as the AIHA EMPAT program.

Performing Effective Mold Sampling

If you need to take mold samples, use properly trained personnel or to get yourself trained. If you decide to undergo training, select a mold training course that provides skills and background information to enable you recognize indoor mold, develop effective mold sampling strategies, and interpret laboratory results.

Testing For Black Mold Growth

Black mold and associated health effects are frequently on the news making the public more concerned about mold health effects. People are worried whenever they see black mold growth either in their home, school or office. We often get questions such as “Is black mold or toxic mold making me sick?” or “How can I tell if black mold in my house is toxic or not?” As we have mentioned before, the colour of mold does not determine whether a mold is a health hazard or not. Not all molds (regardless of colour) are toxigenic or allergenic. The only way to tell if a mold is toxigenic or not is to have it tested by a qualified mycologist (someone who has specialized in mold biology).black mold on ceiling

Health Effects Associated With Black Mold

Some of the illnesses associated with mold growth in homes or offices include:

  • lower respiratory symptoms
  • respiratory infections such as aspergilloses
  • allergic diseases, including allergic asthma and bronchitis
  • non-inflammatory, nonspecific symptoms, such as eye and skin irritation, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting.


An Inexpensive Method to Test if You Are Exposed to Toxic Black Mold or Not

If you see mold growth you may want to have it tested so that you are sure of the type of mold you are dealing with. It doesn’t have to be black mold. Testing for visible mold growth is easy and inexpensive. To have the mold tested you can use the Mold Tape Slide™. The procedure for taking the samples is simple and takes very little time. If you would want to order these tape slides and test the mold growth in your home or office, click Mold Tape Slide™.


Taking mold samples using the MOLD TAPE SLIDE™

Mold Tape Slide

  • Wear suitable gloves. If you are likely to disturb the mold, you should also wear a mask since you don’t want to inhale excessively high amounts of spores.
  • Record the sample number on the slide label. For example:
    • Sample #1 or Tape #1.
  • Peel off seal from slide to expose adhesive (see the words “Peel Here”).
  • Place sticky side of slide onto the surface with visible mold growth and press gently.
  • Place slide back into plastic snap-case (remember you don’t need to replace the seal).
  • Repeat the same procedure for any other sample you wish to take.
  • Once you have taken all the samples, complete the Mold Analysis Request Form.Provide information on where the samples were collected, for example:
    • Tape #1: Basement, west wall
    • Tape #2: Windowsill, kids bedroom
    • Tape #3: Ceiling tile, kitchen
    • Tape #4: Under counter, bathroom.
  • Enclose samples in an envelope for sending by post or courier. Click Mold Testing Laboratory for more details about the Mold Tape Slide™ and for where to send the samples.

House Mold

House mold is not only unsightly but also a potential health hazard. People with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems can have serious reactions to house mold spores. Also, molds produce digestive enzymes that help them utilize building materials as food. Therefore, apart from being a health hazard, house mold will also compromise the integrity of the materials it is growing on (see the picture on the right) such as wood, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, carpet, and baseboard.

White house mold growing from a basement ceiling
Photo courtesy of One Day Mold Removal

There are a number of factors that encourage house mold growth. By controlling these factors, we can subsequently control mold growth. The factors include: indoor humidity and moisture content of materials, temperature, air circulation, light, and the chemical composition of building materials. For an existing house we cannot change the chemical composition of building materials. Light and temperature would also not be practically possible to control in that we need light and warm temperatures in our houses. However, we can effectively control house mold by maintaining the levels of relative humidity indoors below 60% and also ensuring proper ventilation. Air circulation helps control moisture levels through evaporation.

What do you do if you see or suspect house mold growth?

If you see or suspect house mold growth do not panic. You may submit mold samples to a qualified mold laboratory to determine whether the mold present is hazardous or only a cosmetic concern. The MOLD TAPE SLIDE™ is a straightforward, inexpensive and effective method to sample visible mold found on any surface. From it you get information and guidance on what to do next. It is an easy way to determine if the mold is toxic and if it will require a professional to conduct more intensive investigation and remediation. Click MOLD TAPE SLIDE™ for details.

Peel off seal from slide to expose adhesive (see the words “Peel Here”)
Place sticky side of slide onto the surface with visible mold growth and press gently.

Place slide back into plastic snap-case.

 

If you can’t see mold growth but can smell “musty” or “earthy” odours you can also perform a preliminary air test (call 905-290-9101 for details) before calling in a professional.

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