Mold Testing

When required, air sampling can help identify areas of contamination, types of molds present, indoor exposure levels, and establish baseline airborne fungal spore concentrations.

Air sampling is a useful tool in helping to establish or confirm suspected conditions in an indoor environment. Sampling should be conducted in conjunction with an on-site inspection, after a sampling strategy for the specific site is developed.

ECA’s air testing protocol is in conformance with industry standards and is based on collecting an outdoor and other background samples as controls, and then collecting various indoor air samples to either prove or disprove a specific hypothesis.

The analysis and interpretation of sampling results requires a broad understanding of building science, biology, indoor environments, psychrometrics, and detailed training in how molds behave in indoor environments. Also, keep in mind that many pollutants other than mold can affect a home's indoor air.

All samples collected by ECA are submitted to an independent, accredited laboratory that specializes fungal identification and analysis. Test equipment and samplers are annually calibrated.

Sampling Methodologies

Non-culturable air sampling is used to identify the type (“genus”) of mold and to determine if there is an amplification of mold spore counts in the interior air.

Culturable Air sampling is used for collecting air samples that are growth in culture in a laboratory. This type of sampling requires approximately 10-14 days for the mold colonies to grow, hence culturable sampling is used only when specific conditions warrant and when it is important to precisely identify the type of mold growth to the species level.

Surface sampling is taken by means of a swab or tape and is used to determine if mold is growing on the sampled surface and to identify the type of mold growth present.

Dust Sampling can help evaluate longer term indoor environmental conditions. Dust sampling is typically used to collect and analyze dust for accumulation of specific allergens. While air sampling will provide a quick “snapshot” of airborne spore levels, dust sampling gives us a longer term view of allergens that may be collecting in your home.