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Interpreting Mold Test Results

More on interpreting mold test results here: https://builderbuddyonline.com/after-... Visit us at builderbuddy.com for more videos and articles. The purpose of a mold test is to confirm that the air quality inside the home (especially in basements) is not significantly out of range from the outside environment. Mold thrives on decaying tree and plant matter among many other things which is why it is nearly everywhere. As Certified Mold Testing Experts we do not expect to see a mold test result with zero spores in the home. If, however, we find mold in types and numbers inside the home that we do not see in its immediate vicinity, the presence of these spores could indicate an air quality issue. Indoor Mold: is a type of fungus sometimes referred to as mildew. Molds thrive on moisture. Some Molds are known to have Allergenic and Mycotoxin potential. Spores: are reproductive ‘seeds’ for mold that travel through the air Mycotoxins: are toxins produced by fungus that can cause disease or death in humans or animals Aspergillus/Penicillium: are molds that are very common in basements and crawl spaces. In large amounts they can be an indicator of air quality issues. Known to have mycotoxin and allergenic potential. Stachybotrus: commonly known as ‘Black mold’ found in basements or crawl spaces or other areas with active water penetration and wet surfaces. Known to have mycotoxin and allergenic potential. Interpreting a Mold Test Result What is an air sample or mold spore trap? How are these samples taken? An air sample is taken by using a specialized pump to pull a consistent volume of air through a mold spore trap- the trap is a small plastic container that is approximately the same diameter as a silver dollar. For small to medium size homes typically we take 3 air samples- one control sample from the outside, another one at the lowest level finished area (where we suspect the most issues) and another one at a higher level or where we suspect the least air quality issues. For larger homes or for homes that have multiple areas with potential air quality concerns we may take additional samples. After taking the samples we send the traps with documentation to a lab to be analyzed. The lab will identify and count the number of spores caught in each trap and send the results back to us in a report. Mold test results should always be interpreted in relation to a home inspection or a mold inspection- which is why Home Inspectors that specialize in mold testing are among the best professionals to consult for an un-biased evaluation of the air quality in the home. The Test Result: Types of Spores The test result will list the number of spores and the types of spores found in each sample. Different labs will organize and present the information differently. Our lab separates the types of spores into 3 different categories: PREDOMINANTLY OUTDOOR, INDOOR/OUTDOOR, and WATER INDICATORS. PREDOMINANTLY OUTDOOR: (No color)- as a general rule these spores grow predominantly outdoors and are not good indicators of the general air quality inside the home INDOOR/OUTDOOR: (Yellow row) – These spores often grow in moist environments in the home and are excellent indicators of air quality issues in the home– especially aspergillus/penicillium. Aspergillus/Penicillium have mycotoxin and allergenic potential. WATER INDICATORS: (Red row) These spores grow on wet/saturated surfaces inside the home and can indicate a more severe/active/long-term air quality issue in the home with more severe mycotoxin and allergenic potential. Some spores are known to have allergenic and mycotoxin potential while others are not. A visual guide is presented in our report. The Test Result: Raw Counts of Spores When the raw counts of certain spores are significantly out of range from the outdoor sample it may indicate an air quality issue– test results are best interpreted by a professional. In some cases only a portion of the spores are counted in the lab as there are too many too count individually. For example if the Raw Count says ’60’ and only 10% were analyzed that could indicate that there were 10 times the amount or 600 spores (not 60). See video for more information. The Test Result: Calculated Spores Per Cubic Meter In the report the raw counts are then used to estimate a calculated number of spores per cubic meter, in other words, how many spores we would expect to find floating around in a cubic meter of air. These graphics can be helpful but can also be misleading- the test results are best interpreted by a professional. Keep in mind that these graphs are not to scale, and the maximum amounts can vary per sample- see video for more information. See more content at BuilderBuddy.com. Type 'Mold' into the 'Ask Us Anything' Toolbar.