It is common to find mold spores in the air inside homes and buildings; most of the airborne spores found indoors come from outdoor sources. Normally the indoor mold spore types and quantities should be equal to or less than the outdoor mold spore types and quantities.

The goal of biological sampling is to help determine whether the biological particles present in the environment are affecting or causing irritation to the occupants. Sampling is also used to locate the sources of indoor organisms and facilitate an effective remediation. Sampling provides a method to establish - in scientific terms - whether the environment in question contains more organisms than would normally be present. (source: Environmental Microbiology Laboratory - EMLab)

Sampling for fungal identification is only one part of a complete inspection.

Sampling for fungi/mold should include, at a minimum;

• Two air samples and one surface sample indoors; although more sampling is recommended, due to the fact that more samples will result in a more accurate "picture" of the indoor environment at the time of the sampling, which, leads to a more accurate analysis

• One air sample should be taken indoors at a central area, preferably near the HVAC return air grill
• One sample should to be taken per floor level
• Any suspect area should have an additional sample taken

• At a minimum, one air sample should be taken outside, although more are recommended, to determine the baseline of spore types and count
  • Indoor samples are compared to the baseline sample for signs of abnormal types or quantity of fungal spore
• Surface sampling could consist of a tape, swab or bulk sample
  • The primary purpose of a surface sample is to determine what types of fungi (mold) spores are present, and whether or not mold is growing on the surface area that was sampled
• In addition to non-viable samples, it is also recommended that viable samples are taken to determine what mold spores are capable of growth

However, our clients make the final decision as to how many, and what kind of samples are to be taken, based on cost and level of concern. 

After samples are collected, they are sent to an independent accredited laboratory for analysis. Airgenix can provide an inspection summary report, which includes the laboratory's analysis and all pertinent information that was collected during the inspection.

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