Mold Bacteria Consulting Services

Serving Ontario and British Columbia

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Canadian Air Quality Testing Laboratory

Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) is a leading commercial Canadian air quality testing laboratory in North America. Serving mainly the Canadian market, MBL specializes in lab analysis of air and surface samples for fungi (yeasts and mold) and bacteria. MBL is accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA). Routine tests at MBL include:

  •  Bacteria testing: All environmental bacteria including coliforms testing, E. coli testing and Legionella testing
  • Mold testing: Culturable air samples collected using BioCassette, Andersen, SAS, RCS, etc.
  • Mold testing: Direct Microscopic Examination including tape, bulk, swab, water and soil samples
  • Mold testing: Spore trap (or non-viable) samples such as Air-O-Cell, BioAire, and Micro5 cassettes, Allergenco, Burkard and BioSIS slides.
  • Algae: Water samples, etc.

For more information on our air quality testing laboratory or for a complete list of  microbiological tests performed at Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories, please call our Ontario, Mississauga Office at 905-290-9101 or the British Columbia, Burnaby Office at 604-435-6555.

MBL, your indoor air quality testing laboratory. 

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.

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.

Testing For Mold Growth In Residential Houses

Do you have or suspect mold growth in your house? A number of molds may be found growing in houses with damp, humid conditions. The mold can grow on anything from paper, wood, carpet, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, drywall, insulation material, cloth, leather, books to concrete. Some of these molds such as some species of Stachybotrys, Aspergillus and Penicillium are toxigenic (toxic molds). Others like Alternaria and Cladosporium are well known causes of allergic reactions in sensitized individuals.

The good news is that not all molds that occur in indoor environment are hazardous. However, any mold growth in a home should be treated as potential hazard. Current Canadian mold guidelines advise building occupants to clean-up and/or remove visible mold growth. Mold growth can be controlled by eliminating or reducing moisture on surfaces of materials susceptible to mold attack.

What are the indicators of possible mold growth?

  • Excess moisture or water damage. Excess moisture may result from leaks (from pipes or roof), flooding, standing water, condensation, moisture from cooking or washing, and rising damp. Signs of moisture problem may include warping, peeling out of paint, efflorescence, rusting of metal and dampness to the touch.
  • Discoloration of surfaces of building materials that are susceptible to mold attack. These discolorations could be due to mold growth or just water stains.
  • Earthy or musty odours. Earthy odours are an indication of microbial growth. Lack of moldy odours does not mean there is no mold growth. Not all molds produce detectable odours and inactive or dead mold may not produce significant odours.

If you see mold growth or discolorations, you may send tape samples to a mold laboratory to determine whether the mold present is hazardous or is only of cosmetic concern. Cleaning large areas of hazardous mold requires special protection. To take a sample of visible mold growth, no special mold testing kit is required! For details on how to take a sample of visible mold growth click Tape Samples.

If there is earthy or musty odours but no visible mold growth, you can test the air for mold. Air testing may reveal hidden mold growth. Generally, a professional would be required to perform air testing. However, for peace of mind, homeowners can perform preliminary air testing using a cost-effective and easy-to-use mold sampling kit, which will enable them to take samples in their own homes and send them to a laboratory for analysis. For details on air quality testing click Residential Air Quality Testing: How To Test Home Air Quality.

If you have questions regarding mold growth in your home, give us a call at 905-290-9101. We may be able to help you or direct you to the right professionals or resources.

Mold Testing Methods

A number of mold testing methods are available for the detection of mold contamination in indoor environment. Testing can be performed on dust from carpet, floor, mattress, or other surfaces; bulk material such as pieces of drywall, carpet, ceiling tiles, wallpaper and wood. In some cases air testing may be necessary. When should one test for mold in dust, on bulk material or in air? The decision should be based on the objectives of the investigations being conducted. The objectives of the investigation should help determine the type of data required, that is, either qualitative or quantitative and subsequently the type of samples to collect and the method the lab should use.

For more details on mold testing visit http://www.moldbacteria.com/services.html

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Legionella pneumophila – Guidelines for Laboratory Interpretation

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