TESTING FOR MOLD

There are several ways to test for mold. Some of them include the following:

Visual Inspection
According to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Environmental & Occupational Disease Epidemiology, a visual inspection of a potentially mold-infested property should include the following:

“A visual inspection is the most important initial step in identifying a possible contamination problem. The extent of any water damage and mold growth should be visually assessed. This assessment is important in determining remedial strategies. Ventilation systems should also be visually checked, particularly for damp filters but also for damp conditions elsewhere in the system and overall cleanliness. Ceiling tiles, gypsum wallboard (sheetrock), cardboard, paper, and other cellulosic surfaces should be given careful attention during a visual inspection.

The use of equipment such as a moisture meters to detect moisture in building materials, may be helpful in identifying hidden sources of water or moisture which leads to fungal growth and the extent hidden damage.   Boroscopes can be used to view spaces in ductwork or behind walls, or a moisture meter, Damage !

Professional Inspection & Contamination Analysis
A trained profession may collect samples for laboratory analysis. These can include:

Air Samples: The investigator collects samples of the air to determine if hidden sources of mold are present in a building. The simplest type is called the "spore trap technique" in which a known quantity of air is drawn across a sticky surface. Spores in the air adhere to the sticky surface.

Bulk/Surface Sampling: A piece of building material or furnishing suspected of housing mold growth is cut out and sent to a laboratory. The sample can then be inspected under a microscope or even cultured in a growth medium to differentiate mold species. Bulk or surface sampling is not required to undertake a remediation. Bulk or surface samples may need to be collected to identify specific fungal contaminants as part of a medical evaluation if occupants are experiencing symptoms that may b~ related to fungal exposure or to identify the presence or absence of mold if a visual inspection is equivocal (e.g., discoloration and staining). An individual trained in appropriate sampling methodology should perform bulk or surface sampling. Bulk samples are usually collected from visibly moldy surfaces by scraping or cutting materials with a clean tool into a clean plastic bag. Surface samples are usually collected by wiping a measured area with a sterile swab or by stripping the suspect surface with clear tape. Surface sampling is less destructive than bulk sampling.

Dust Collection Samples: Samples of settled dust are sometimes collected to see how much and what types of fungi are in the dust. This type of sample is very seldom utilized in mold investigations

Tape Lift Sample: A piece of cellophane tape placed on a surface containing discoloration that is suspected to be mold. The tape is then lifted and affixed to a glass slide. A trained mycologist using a microscope in a laboratory will view the slide and can confirm the mold present in the sample.

Wipe or "Swab" Samples: The investigator wipes a smooth surface with a cotton swab which is then placed in a tube and set to the lab for analysis. The swab can be “picked” apart to view the collected contamination or placed on growth media. After ample time for growth and development, the culture is viewed to determine species of mold in some cases.

Other sampling methods may also be available. A laboratory specializing in mycology should be consulted for specific sampling and delivery instructions.

Air Monitoring
Air sampling for fungi should not be part of a routine assessment. Since decisions about appropriate remediation strategies can usually be made on the basis of a visual inspection. In addition, air-sampling methods for some fungi are prone to false negative results and therefore cannot be used to definitively rule out contamination.  Use monies wisely—don't waste it on unnecessary testing.  If visual mold is present, little additional information can be gained and even convoluted by air sampling for mold.

Air monitoring may be necessary if an individual{s) has been diagnosed with a disease that is or may be associated with a fungal exposure (e.g., pulmonary hemorrhage/hemosiderosis and aspergillosis).

Air monitoring may be necessary if there is evidence from a visual inspection or r bulk sampling that ventilation systems may be contaminated. The purpose of such air monitoring is to assess the extent of contamination throughout a building. It is preferable to conduct sampling while ventilation systems are operating.

Air monitoring may be necessary if the presence of mold is suspected (e.g., musty odors) but cannot be identified by a visual inspection or bulk sampling (e.g., mold growth behind walls). The purpose of such air monitoring is to determine the location and/or extent of contamination.

If air monitoring is performed, for comparative purposes, outdoor air samples should be collected concurrently at an air intake, if possible, and at a location representative of outdoor air.

Personnel conducting the sampling must be trained in proper air sampling methods for microbial contaminants. A laboratory specializing in mycology should be consulted for specific sampling and shipping instructions.

Analysis of Environmental Samples
Evaluation of bulk/surface sampling and air sampling data should be performed by an experienced laboratory professional. The presence of few or trace amounts of fungal spores in bulk/surface sampling should be considered background. Amounts greater than this or the presence of fungal fragments (e.g., hyphae and conidiophores) may suggest fungal colonization, growth, and/or accumulation at or near the sampled location. Air samples should be evaluated by means of comparison (i.e., indoors to outdoors) and by fungal type (e.g., genera and species). In general, the levels and types of fungi found should be similar indoors (in non-problem buildings) as compared to the outdoor air. Differences in the levels or types of fungi found in air samples may indicate that moisture sources and resultant fungal growth may be problematic.