Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

• HOME
• AIR CONDITIONING
• ELECTRICAL
• EXTERIORS
• HEATING
• HOME INSPECTION
• INTERIORS
• PLUMBING
• ROOFING
• SEPTIC SYSTEMS
• STRUCTURE
• WATER SUPPLY

• ENERGY SAVINGS
• ENVIRONMENT
• INDOOR AIR IAQ
• INSULATION
• MOLD INSPECT TEST REMOVE
• NOISE
• ODORS
• SOLAR ENERGY
• VENTILATION
• EXPERTS DIRECTORY
• CONTACT US

Mold testing procedures: technical guide to testing for mold contamination in buildings.

This website answers most questions on what to do about mold, providing expert, un-biased information for owners, occupants, inspectors. How to recognize mold, how to test mold, how to clean up or remove mold, how to prevent mold in buildings, and what mold related illnesses and symptoms have been reported are all discussed in depth. Readers should also see MOLD TEST PROCEDURES

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

MOLD LAB TECHNICAL PROCEDURES - Forensic Particle Analysis Technical & Laboratory Procedures

Good Laboratory and Microscope Procedures are critical in making sense of environmental test field samples just as good and thorough field investigations produce more useful results than a quick "air test for mold" or "culture test for mold" performed with no building inspection and no client history collection.

Competent, trained, experienced aerobiologists, mycologists, and microbiologists can identify mold or other particle 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 extrapolations from lab results. Hasty work by disinterested parties may be less than accurate or useful for building occupants and owners.

• Air Sampler Specifications Required for Airborne Particle Calculations
• Airborne Particle Concentration Calculations - Spores per Cubic Meter for airborne mold or other particles - Lab SOP and Examples
• BASKETBALL MOLD SYNDROME - BBMS- sudden attention to old clues in buildings makes them seem brand new to some observers
• Bibliography of Mold Identification, Aerobiology, Forensic Microscopy - References used in our Laboratory for Aerobiology, Mycology, Indoor Air Quality Investigations, Particle ID, Forensic Microscopy, etc.
• Digital photography for microscopists - getting the image from the microscope slide to the computer to the database or printer
• Light-microscope examination methods, education, references, suppliers
• Museums & Restorations: Cultural Heritage and Aerobiology Mandrioli, Caneva, and Sabbioni (English version), museum artifact preservation from mold, acid gases etc. - book review in Pan American Aerobiology Association Newsletter
• Slide preparation methods, formulas, suppliers
• Slide Preparation - Permanent Slides, A Method For Preparing Cargille meltmount™ Permanent Microscope Slides for Rapid Field or Laboratory Use
• Tape Sample Analysis for Mold - How to Report Mold Levels in Mold Test Samples of Surfaces in buildings

Here are the BASICS YOU NEED to FIND, TEST, REMOVE & PREVENT MOLD - what to do about mold in buildings

• Mold Action Guide: follow this easy step by step outline of what to do
• Mold Detection - Articles on Mold Identification Photos and Tips - How to Find and Recognize Mold in a Building - articles describing how to find problem mold
• Mold Age Determination - how old is the mold in a building?
  
• Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab
  
• Mold Cleanup - How to Clean Up Mold or Remove Mold in buildings
  
• MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION - How to Prevent Mold Growth in buildings
  
• FAQs Frequently Asked Questions About Mold - this detailed list answers most questions about mold
• Mold Action Guide after Flooding: How to Minimize Mold Damage After a Building Flood
  
• Mold Odors, Musty Smells in buildings: what causes moldy smells in buildings?
• Odors, Odor Detection, Smells, & Gases how to find and identify sources of noxious or toxic odors and gases
  
• Renters and Tenants how can a tenant deal with a moldy rental apartment or rental home
• Our Field Inspection & Testing Services
• Our In-House Mold Testing Lab Service
• Contact Us to arrange mold/IAQ Building on site mold or other IAQ inspection and testing.

HIRE AN EXPERT - Do you need to hire a mold expert, bring in a mold remediator, hire a handyman, or clean up for yourself?

Readers should see WHEN TO HIRE A MOLD EXPERT for details about how to decide when hiring a mold expert is justified and appropriate. See MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS for a list of mold investigators whose work is familiar to us. Other mold investigators and test consultants may also be competent and qualified.

MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD gives basic advice for a do-it-yourself mold cleanup project, and detailed guidance about what to do about mold is provided at ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD.

• When to hire a professional to inspect, test, write a cleanup plan
• Find a mold inspector A Directory of well qualified Mold/IAQ Service Providers
• Associations Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
• Mold Clearance Inspections When & How to Perform a Mold Remediation Clearance Inspection
• MOLD LEVEL REPORTS Reporting the Results of Mold and IAQ Investigations & Clearance Inspections: what should be included
• Our Field Investigation Service our senior expert goes where no one else wanted to look, uses non-invasive tools and sophisticated testing equipment for mold, gases, moisture, air quality, contaminants, Building problem diagnosis.
  Contact Us to arrange mold/IAQ Building on site inspection and testing.

MOLD TEST PROCEDURES - Valid and in-valid mold testing methods & protocols. Are some mold test kits junk science?

Please see Mold Sampling Methods in the Indoor Environment and in addition, the mold test critique articles listed just below.

• 
  How to Send A Mold Sample to Our Lab: 6 Easy Steps for a Mold Test: How to Collect Mold Samples Using Adhesive Tape and Plastic Bags - a low-cost high-quality and very easy method to send a mold sample to a mold laboratory for analysis Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to a lab
  
  


• Validity of Common Indoor Mold Sampling Techniques
• Examining the Validity of Current Indoor Mold Sampling Techniques, Daniel Friedman, (Illustrated Power Point Presentation) 15th Annual North Carolina/South Carolina Environmental Association Technical Conference
• Tape: Mold Testing by Tape of a Moldy Surface "bulk" or "tape" samples and their interpretation - a brief tutorial
• Tape: How to Report Mold Levels in Tape Samples of Surfaces in buildings
• Air: Mold Testing by Air Samples & their interpretation - a brief tutorial on indoor air sampling for mold - are spore counts per cubic meter of air accurate and valid? Using air sampling to determine if a mold problem is "present" or "absent" and the role of cultures for "viable spore sampling" are criticized. Air sampling used alone is an unreliable way to look for mold and is highly questionable as a means of characterizing a precise mold exposure level indoors.
• BASKETBALL MOLD SYNDROME - BBMS- sudden attention to old clues in buildings makes them seem brand new to some observers
• Carpet Mold Inspection how to look for mold in carpets
• Carpet Mold Test Guide suggestions for alternative methods to test carpeting for mold
• Culture: Mold Testing by Cultures & "Home Test Kits for Mold" - Validity of Settlement Plates or Swabs to test for toxic mold in buildings - a brief tutorial
• Mold Sampling Methods in the Indoor Environment a critique of popular mold testing methods - Is your "expert" using valid methods? Is your mold test kit worth the bother? (Technical Paper.)
• Toxic Mold Testing Methods Compared, also Toxic Gas Testing Methods and MVOC's - valid vs. invalid methods, recommendations compares air sampling for mold, surface or tape sampling for mold, culture or swab sampling for mold, and gas MVOC sampling methods for mold or other toxins, and organizes links to papers on each of these topics.
• A Comparison of Some Indoor Air Sampling Devices - simultaneous application of popular sampling cassettes and slide samplers allows comparison of typical particle collection variation by device in actual field use. A field study in process by DJF, 2008 - 2005 (Technical Paper)
• Burkard personal air sampler used by many residential investigators (we use multiple units simultaneously in some investigations). We also employ other residential building sampling equipment for surface, air, vacuum, and bulk sample collection methods as well as for gases.
• Alternative, low-cost air sampling equipment and methods such as the mini-vacuum pump and Zefon Air-o-Cell or Allergenco-d cassettes or MCE filter cassettes for viable, non-viable or other forensic particle identification in buildings. A field study in process by DJF, 2005 - 2006 (Technical Paper)
• Allergenco Mk-III time-lapse impaction air sampling equipment - study changes in particle dispersion under varying conditions (furnace on/off) A field study in process by DJF, 2004 - 2006 (Technical Paper)
  

• Mold Testing: Bulk or Tape Surface Samples and their interpretation - a quick tutorial A brief introduction to using adhesive tape to collect particle samples such as from mold-covered surfaces; scrapes onto microscope slide and other methods also used by do-it-yourselfers and by experts
• Vacuum Samples of Building Cavities: 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. See Mold in Fiberglass Insulation for details of the occurrence of mold contamination in building insulation, and see  Vacuuming building cavities as a screen for building mold as well as Vacuuming exposed insulation for finding mold-contaminated fiberglass.
  
  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 Soft Goods 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.

• Toxic gases, indoor exposure levels, testing, identification
• Toxic Gas Testing: A Sampling Plan for Residential buildings lists some of the toxic indoor gases for which we test, depending on the Building complaint and Building conditions
• Gas Exposure Hazard Levels: for Toxic Gas Exposure to Ammonia, Arsine, Arsenic, Bromine, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Hydride, Ozone - allowable exposure levels and hazard levels
• Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity hazard levels & testing
• Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity hazard levels & testing
• Formaldehyde: US EPA. UFFI (Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation) was previously considered a hazard (formaldehyde outgassing). Subsequent research virtually closed concern regarding this material; however formaldehyde appears to remain a health concern for sensitive individuals.
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Sampling for gases in air such as VOC's, MVOC's, toxic chemicals, and combustion products.
  
  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.
• Radon Gas U.S. EPA Radon level maps
• Legionella sp. Health Concerns and advice, cleaning air conditioning systems, when to test for Legionella

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers about building mold testing & screening procedures

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

• InspectAPedia.com^® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor.
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY

AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR
AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY
AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY
ALLERGEN TESTS for buildings
ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE
ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY
ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER
ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings
ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings

BASEMENT MOLD
BATHROOM MOLD
BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES
BLUERAY Recall
BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE

CARBON DIOXIDE - CO2
CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
CARBON MONOXIDE WARNING
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS

FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP

MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT
ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS

ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD
AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR
AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY
AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY
AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY
ALLERGEN TESTS for buildings
ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE
ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
BOOKSTORE - ENVIRONMENTAL
BUY PRODUCTS for MOLD & ALLERGY CONTROL
CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS - MOLD CLEANUP
DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP
EMF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS & HUMAN EXPOSURE
ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD
FIND MOLD in buildings, HOW TO
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP

FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE
HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND
HUMIDITY CONTROL TO PREVENT MOLD

INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED

LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LEED Building Designation & IAQ

MILDEW in buildings ?
MILDEW ERRORS - MOLD PHOTOS
MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION
MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings

MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT
MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD
MOLD ACTIVITY in buildings
MOLD AGE - Old is the Mold?
MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD
MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE
MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS
Mold on Books, Book Conservation
MOLD CLASSES, HAZARD LEVELS
MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE
MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES
MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS
MOLD CLINICAL REFERENCE TEXTS
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
MOLD DOCTORS - ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE
MOLD EXPOSURE, FOOD HAZARDS
MOLD EXPOSURE RISK LEVELS
MOLD EXPOSURE STANDARDS
MOLD FAQ's
MOLD FREQUENCY in buildings
MOLD GROWTH on SURFACES
MOLD HYPHAL FRAGMENTS
MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS
MOLD LEVEL REPORTS
MOLD LEVELS IN buildings
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE
MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS
MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS
MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE
MOLD RELATED ILLNESS GUIDE
MOLD RELATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS
MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS
MOLD STANDARDS

MOLD TEST KITS
MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS
MOLD TEST PROCEDURES
MOLD TEST REASONS
MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY
MOLD TESTING SERVICES
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE

Nanomaterials Hazards
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS, Smells, Gases in buildings-Diagnosis & Cure
RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD
SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE
SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP
STAIN DIAGNOSIS
TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES
THERMAL TRACKING

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
• Aerobiology, Building Science, Microscopy, & Laboratory References, an extensive technical bibliography
• Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9
• Atlas of Mold Related Illness: Index of Symptoms and health, physical, neurological, psychological, and other complaint which people suspect may be mold or building-related.
• Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
• Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
• Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
• Clinical Mold References - Detailed bibliography of mold reference texts
• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
• "Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
• "Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens," Patricia Donald, Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
  Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
• "Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
• Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English)
• Mold Action Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions, What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
• US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building US EPA
• US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo - en Espanol
• Most Common Indoor Molds Found in buildings, A Table of
• Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6
• ...