Testing

Testing… to determine whether mold exists bin situations where you see it, is not necessary!

Testing can still serve the purpose of helping determine the scope of the problem and to classify each area.

However...final clearance testing is almost always a worthwhile investment. It is the only way to measure the success of remediation and is done with outdoor levels as the bench

In the world of mold testing it is very important to have something to compare your results with. This is called a control sample and is usually based on the average level of mold in the outside air.

A few samples may be adequate in situations which are limited in scope. When significant damage and major investments are concerned, extensive sampling, conducted by an industrial hygienist, is recommended. It is usually best to keep the building closed, with the HVAC system off, for at least 12 hours before testing. Sometimes it will be best to simply sample under normal use conditions, to understand what levels are present under those conditions.

We always use a third party, independent testing lab to provide unbiased analysis and return results on an average of 48 hours.

Tape lift or swab sampling will be useful for analyzing the condition of your materials and is often done in conjunction with air sample collection.

It may be best to sample inside walls and ducting as well....depending on the situation at hand.

STACHY NOTE:

qWhen mycotoxins are present, they occur in both living and dead mold spores and may be present in materials that have become contaminated with molds. While Stachybotrys is growing, a wet slime layer covers its spores, preventing them from becoming airborne. However, when the mold dies and dries up, air currents or physical handling can cause spores to become airborne. The toxicity can out live the mold.

q At present there is no environmental test to determine whether Stachybotrys growth found in buildings is producing toxins. There is also no blood or urine test that can establish if an individual has been exposed to Stachybotrys chartarum spores or its toxins.

It is probable that the mycotoxins are a defense mechanism triggered by competing mold colonies or even certain attempts at checking the growth of the mold. It is probable that when living unthreatened...the mold does not produce large quantities of toxins. Thus it is NOT toxic mold but rather TOXIGENIC mold.

At any rate the allergenic and health effects may vary widely from individual to individual. Very young, very old, and immune compromised individuals may especially be at risk.