How to Test for Toxic Black Mold

Mold spores are everywhere, but they need an excessively moist environment and a nutritious piece of material such as cardboard, wood or wall paper before they can grow. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), black mold, also known as Stachybotrys chartarum, has been incorrectly deemed "especially toxic." All types of mold can cause allergies and should be removed promptly, and there has been no evidence that black mold causes pulmonary hemorrhaging. Testing can be done by an experienced professional to determine whether the mold is gone. However, both the CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency note that identifying the type of mold is less important than effectively removing it.

Instructions

• 1

  Find a certified mold inspector in your area through the National Association of Mold Professionals directory: moldpro.org/directory/display/index.html. Be sure to ask specifically what the company tests for and how long the results will take.

• 2

  Schedule an appointment for the mold technician to come to your home for testing. Do not try to clean the mold before the technician arrives; it's easier for him to assess the level of damage and take samples with the original mold patterns in place.

• 3

  Wait for your sampling results; this may take a few days. The report should include the types of mold present as well as any other bacteria or allergens.