When Should you Consider a Mold Inspection and Testing?

Mold inspection and testing services are recommended when individuals suspect possible health risk, or hazard to occupants in an indoor environment. MoldRemovalPhiladelphia.net specializes in indoor air quality mold inspection and testing services for these needs. We provide rapid response in emergency situations, attention to project deadlines, quality assurance to residential and commercial customers, and provides third party
analytical laboratory services.

What Types of Tests Can Be Performed

Air Sampling via Mold Spore Trap (MST)
The Mold Spore Trap (MST) has a sticky Micro slide surface inside. Air from the environment is pulled across the surface of the slide—an air pump is used to regulate air flow across the slide. Particles in the air then stick to the sticky surface of the slide, which is then put under a microscope and examined for mold spores. This method will provide us with the relative amount of mold spores in the air indoors Vs outdoors. We utilize the services of EMSL Laboratories located in Cinnaminson, NJ.

Bulk Sampling
The technician places a Bulk piece of contaminated material into a test tube or sample container. This material is then delivered to the laboratory and analyzed for both species and a physical count. This material is often sheetrock or framing, but can also be carpeting, fabrics, clothing and other commonly found items in a home or businesses.

Swab Sampling
The technician places a cotton swab or prepared sterile swab directly on the surface of suspected mold and scrapes the swab along the sample until parts of the material is collected in the fibers. This is a very good method of testing when looking to determine the species of mold. This will not give a spore count however.

Viable Spore Count
First, a glass or plastic container, the “Petri Dish” is placed into an instrument. Fluid is then added into the container or “dish” to catch any mold spores passing over the liquid. The instrument forces air to flow over the Petri Dish and then contaminated material is then collected. The sample container is then sent to a laboratory for Culturing. This is a very good method of testing and actually grows the mold spores collected. A viable spore count test is only used to sample viable spores—it will not detect parts of mold (hyphae) or dead mold spores.