How to Do Low-Cost Mold Sample Collection and
Mold Laboratory Identification of Mold Species
Although any mold in elevated levels indoors
can cause severe health problems for
mold-sensitive occupants, several toxic
molds such as Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, and Penicillium pose far greater
health risks than others, according to Phillip Fry,
Certified Mold Inspector
and author of the book Mold Health Guide.
Thus, many homeowners, rental property owners, tenants, employers, and
employees in Canada, the USA, and worldwide want to know, and need to know,
the precise identities of the various mold species infesting their moldy
home, apartment, or workplace.
The accurate identification of mold species requires two steps: (1) physical
collection of mold samples from the moldy building; and (2) mold laboratory
analysis and mold species identification of the collected mold samples.
For the first step, a property owner, manager, tenant, or employee usually
hires a
certified mold inspector, an industrial hygienist, or an environmental
hygienist for mold inspection and collection of mold testing samples, at a
typical cost of US $500 to $2,000 for a 2,000 square foot (186 square
meters) home.
This inspection and testing fee usually includes mold laboratory analysis
and mold species identification for a small
number (3 to 10) of collected mold samples.
Alternatively, if the available funds for mold testing and mold lab analysis
are low, it is possible to achieve the same accurate mold testing results
for just $60 to $200 by using---
(1) inexpensive, transparent, sticky, adhesive tape (“lift tape sampling”),
such as Scotch® brand tape, to collect the mold samples; and
(2) a low-cost mold analysis laboratory.
Lift tape sampling and testing is an easy,
practically-free (except for the cost of the tape), and an effective way to
collect mold test samples when you---
(1) Can see mold growing on a wall, ceiling, floor, carpeting, furniture,
heating/cooling duct register, or other surface;
(2) Want to know whether a particular stain, discoloration, or mystery
substance on the wall or another surface is actually mold growth; and/or
(3) Smell mold (the digestive gas emitted by mold eating the home or
building) and want to test a number of surfaces upon which elevated levels
of airborne mold spores may have landed or been deposited, such as on walls,
window sills, window and door trim, refrigerator top, kitchen cabinet tops,
undusted furniture, heating/cooling duct registers, and the return air
filter in the heating/cooling system.
The easy steps involved in tape lift sampling are---
1. Cut a three-inch (3”) long strip of one-inch (1”) wide, transparent
sticky tape such as Scotch®Brand
Tape..
2. While wearing rubber gloves and a breathing respirator mask (with organic
vapor filters) from the local hardware or home improvement store, press the
tape strip firmly (sticky side down) onto the visible mold growth or onto
the surface being tested.
3. Remove (peel back) the tape from the surface.
4. Open up a small ziplock bag (a transparent, easily sealable plastic
storage bag), and press lightly the lift tape sample sticky side onto the
inside sidewall of the ziplock bag.
5. Close [zip shut] the ziplock bag completely. Tape it shut if necessary to
make sure no airborne mold spores can escape.
6. Attach to the outside of the ziplock bag a large adhesive label with the
tester’s name, date of sampling, property address, the precise testing
location at that address (e.g., “air conditioning duct register in living
room”), testing method (“lift tape sampling”), and the name, postal address,
email address, phone number, and fax number (if any} of the person
submitting the sample to the mold laboratory of your choice..
7. Mail or express the collected lift tape samples (including payment of the
lab’s analysis fee} to the mold analysis laboratory for mold species
identification and quantification.
For more information about mold laboratory analysis and mold species
identification, please visit---
http://www.moldlab.biz
http://www.moldinspector.com
http://www.certifiedmoldinspectors.com
http://www.moldmart.net
Also read: Lift Tape Sampling
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