Mold Tests for Mold Black Mold Toxic MoldMold Tests Help for Mold Problems

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Tests and Testing for Mold Black Mold and Toxic Mold

                      Mold Testing Your Environment is Important   

If you have visible Mold, and the insurance company has agreed to repair what's wrong, you and your family are not sick, or you are having to pay for the mold remediation yourself, you may want to forgo pre-remediation Mold testing.

The reason is it does not matter what type mold you have, you need to get rid of it from your home, school or place of work. No matter what kind of Mold it is it will eventually grow to be a problem you don't want.

A Mold contractor that wants you to test to find out what kind of Mold it is, is just after your money.

However, if there is a possibility of trouble with a law suit, insurance or a management company, employer or future possible illness where a third party may be liable for your damages, get testing done. you can never has too much data when those times arise. Also, when a third party is involved, don't trust anyone document everything yourself.

 

TESTING TYPES 

AIR-O-CELL (Mold Spore Trap)



The Name "Air-O-Cell" is a brand name the term is a Mold Spore Trap "MST"

How it works:

The MST has inside of it a greased or sticky Micro slide surface. Air from the environment is pull across the slides surface by using an air pump to regulate the air flow across the slide. Particles in the air  then stick to the slides sticky surface. The slide is then put under a microscope and read for Mold spores.

Problems with this Type of Testing:

  • People doing the Testing run their air pumps at different speeds
  • Some labs read the Micro slides at 400 x microscope power and others at 600x and 800x
  • The results on record are a snap shot of what was going on in the air at that time only
  • Test results can vary depending where in the room the sample were taken from
  • One sample must be taken form the outside air to establish a baseline, results will vary based upon where that sample is taken

Uses: To measure the air quality in rooms. This type of testing does have
            valuable uses and is a good indicator of what you may be breathing or is
            on your skin, eyes or body.

Cost:
Expect to pay $75.00 - $128.00 per sample and there may be a three MST minimum

 

Tape Lift or Tape Slide Sampling



How it Works

This is just what it sounds like. The technician places a clear sticky piece of tape or sticky prepared slide directly on to the area of suspect Mold and lifts the Mold from its place trapping it onto the tape or microscope slide. This is a dependable method of testing.

Problems with this type of Testing:

  •  It will not give you a Mold Spore count

Uses: To indicate Mold contamination on surfaces such as, furniture, clothing, walls Etc...
            This type of testing does have valuable uses and is a good indicator of what may be 
            contaminated in a structure and how far spread is the contamination within the structure.

Cost:
Expect to pay $60.00 - $95.00 per sample and there may be a minimum charge



Swab Testing


 
How it Works

This is just what it sounds like. The technician places a cotton swab or prepared sterile swab directly on to the area of suspect Mold and lifts the Mold from its place trapping it onto the Cotton swab. This is a dependable method of testing.

Problems with this type of Testing:

  •  It will not give you a Mold Spore count

Cost: Expect to pay $60.00 - $95.00 per sample and there may be a minimum charge


Bulk Sampling



How it Works

The technician places a Bulk piece of contaminated material into a test tube or sample container.  This is a dependable method of testing.

Problems with this type of Testing:

  •  It will not give you a Mold Spore count

Cost: Expect to pay $80.00 - $125.00 per sample and there may be a minimum charge


Air Impactors and Viable Spore Testing



How it Works

The technician places a glass or plastic container "Petri Dish" into an instrument. Fluid is added to the container or "dish" to catch Mold spores as they pass over the liquid. The instrument forces air to flow over the dish and contaminated material is collected. The sample container is then sent to the for Culturing. This is a dependable method of testing and actually grows the mold spores collected. This is a test for living Mold Spores.

Problems with this type of Testing:

  •  It will not give you all the types of Mold spores in the environment and only grows Mold Spores that are living

Cost: Expect to pay $100.00 - $150.00 per sample and there may be a minimum charge


The Mold Home Test Kit


How it Works

The kit contains a "Petri Dish" and fluid. The fluid is to be added to the dish and you are to sit the dish out in the area you think has mold in it. After a few minutes you are to cap the dish and send the sample container to their laboratory for culturing.

Problems with this type of Testing:

  •  No one will accept these results for Court, Law suits, insurance or for medical purposes. This test is for your personal use or knowledge only.

Cost: Expect to pay $9.00 - $15.00 at the store and $25-$50 for the Lab Work