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Indoor Air Quality: Testing for Mold Contamination in Buildings

Testing for mold contamination in buildings may involve collection and analysis of the following types of samples:

Air Samples

Air samples may be collected for total spore/hyphal fragment count (non-culture analysis) or for culture analysis. The analysis includes enumeration and identification of significant species. Both non-culture and culture analyses have some limitations. For example with non-culture analysis, identification of mold spores to species is difficult and for culture analysis only the viable spores/hyphal fragments are detected. In some situations, a combination of the 2 types of samples is recommended.

Tape, Bulk, Swab, Dust Samples for Direct Microscopic and Culture Analysis

Tape, swab, and dust samples are taken from surfaces suspected of mold contamination. For bulk, a piece building material such as a piece of carpet, drywall, insulation material or wood is collected. The analyses of these samples by direct microscopy allows identification to genus but experienced mycologists may identify some molds to species.

If identification to species is required, the samples are cultured in some suitable media. However, as was mentioned for air samples, only viable mold would grow in media. It is therefore recommended that both direct microscopy and culturing are used when identification of species is required.

For details on types of mold testing, click Services.

Mold Testing: Is It Necessary?

It is widely accepted that mold growth in occupied places should not be allowed because of health risks. However, it is always debated as to whether mold testing is necessary in situations where growth is visible. Both mold assessment and mold testing are necessary as discussed below.

Mold Assessment
Mold assessment involves a qualified professional who would conduct a thorough inspection of the building. The key objectives of a mold assessment are to determine the underlying cause of mold growth and the extent of contamination. Mold assessment does not tell the investigator the types of molds growing in the building and whether these molds have contaminated the air.

Mold Testing
Would doctors prescribe antibiotics to patients with bacterial infection without testing to know which bacterium is causing infection? Similarly, a mold investigator requires to know whether the building is contaminated with toxigenic molds such as Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, Fusarium, or any of the close to 200 molds likely to be found in a water damaged building. The investigator may also want to know whether the air is already contaminated with spores from the visible growth and hence, they have to collect samples and send them to a reputable mold laboratory for testing.

From laboratory results and the visual assessment data, the investigator is able to give recommendations on the level of mold abatement required and the necessary protection for the workers and the building occupants. Read more about why test for mold at http://www.moldbacteria.com.

Salmonella food poisoning and symptoms

Salmonella food poisoning has been a growing concern in recent news. It has frequently lead to recalls of beef, salads and organic products and, even peanut butter products. Salmonella food poisoning occurs when one eats raw or undercooked foods such meat, poultry, eggs or egg products. Properly cooked food can get contaminated with Salmonella if […]

Legionella pneumophila – Guidelines for Laboratory Interpretation

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram negative, aerobic bacteria that is characterized as an opportunistic pathogen. It is the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe form of pneumonia and, it is the cause of Pontiac fever, a non-pneumonic form of L. pneumophila infection. Legionella spp.’s mode of transmission is through aerosols or aspiration of contaminated water. The Public Health […]

The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

The mold (or mould, in the Queen’s English) has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost. […]