|  | Public Health Safety | Environmental Health

A Test for Toxic Mold

Toxic mold, also known as black mold, can pose serious health risks to those who live or work near it. There are a few tests you can perform yourself to determine the presence and type of mold.

  1. Types of Testing

    • There are two types of mold tests: those that sample air, and those that sample surfaces. Petri dish sampling and vacuum sampling monitor the air and surfaces; spore trap sampling measures mold in the air and bulk surface sampling and tape sampling monitor mold on the surface.

    How the Tests Work

    • To use a petri dish test kit, either put a physical sample of mold in the petri dish, sample HVAC air by letting air from a vent hit the open dish for 10 minutes or leave the dish open in an area suspected of having mold. Seal the dish and allow it to rest for 48 hours, while the mold incubates.

      After the incubation period, compare mold in the dish to pictures provided with the testing kit or send the sample dish to a lab to be analyzed.

      An alternative way to collect a sample is to vacuum a suspected surface (such as a carpet, drapes or furniture) and send in the vacuum bag for analysis. InspectAPedia's Mold Information Center claims this method is best for screening of areas where mold is not visible. Spore trap testing collects samples of airborne mold into special cassettes, which are then sent in for analysis. Bulk testing requires a portion of a surface to be removed and analyzed, usually performed by mold inspectors. A tape test uses a clear piece of tape to collect a sample of mold, which is then sent in for analysis in a plastic bag.

    Where to Find Testing Kits, Experts

    • One can obtain mold test kits online, in select stores or at some doctor's offices. Mold test kits are readily available in such stores as CVS, Lowe's, Home Depot, Giant Eagle, Kroger and others. A doctor can recommend reliable mold inspectors to hire for mold analysis and cleanup.

    What to Do After Testing

    • If any of the tests reveals the presence of toxic mold, it is imperative to remove the mold. Mold, especially toxic mold, can be very hazardous to one's health, causing issues such as "allergic reactions, irritation associated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), invasive disease and mycotoxicosis" according to the Toxic Black Mold Information Center. It may be necessary to hire professional cleaners to eliminate the mold.

Environmental Health - Related Articles