Mold Testing
Along with a visual inspection mold inspector’s also use a variety of laboratory testing procedures to correctly diagnose indoor air quality concerns. Some of these sources include air sampling (testing for 27 species of mold), allergens, pollen and dander.
When is airborne mold testing appropriate?
Air testing for mold is primarily used to assess the building occupant’s potential exposure to mold growth. For example, if a recent water damage incident lead to saturated carpeting, an air test can help identify if elevated mold spores occurred as a result. The carpeting itself could be sampled, but we really are not concerned with mold spores in the carpet as much as whether those mold spores are airborne, and thus interacting with the health of the occupants.
Air testing is also helpful in determining if a musty odor is caused by mold growth or other sources. In the Portland area, many basements suffer from musty odors. Determining if this odor stems from a true mold infestation will help the inspector determine a solution.
When is surface mold testing appropriate?
Surface testing is generally used to verify if a suspicious material is in fact mold growth. For example, occasionally efflorescence can be mistaken for white mold growth. A simple surface test will quickly distinguish between the two.