There are three main types of mold testing: Air, Surface, and Dust. 

Air:  The most common testing performed by standard mold inspectors and also the most limited. Air sampling is only a snapshot in time and results will change day to day, even hour to hour.  Air sampling results historically provide false negatives. Ambient air sampling alone is not recommended for a primary determination during the inspection phase during a Medically Important Assessment. 

Surface:  Surfaces sampling such as swabs or tape lifts can identify contamination levels and/or mold types on building materials. Surface sampling can be used to identify if a suspected stain or substance is actually mold, or if mold is present within a particular area, such as a wall or section of floor. Surface sampling can be a very useful tool during the inspection and investigation process. 

Dust:  

• MSQPCR: Commonly referred to as the ERMI, MSQPCR dust sampling is thought to be the most accurate measure for mold exposure in a building. The analysis uses DNA to identify the levels of approximately 40 types of mold. Since the specimen is the dust from the structure, the result is more accurately reflective of both the historic and current condition of the home. 

• Viable Culture:  Culture analysis of a dust sample will identify molds that are active and living in the home.  The advantage to culture over MSQPCR is that a cultured sample is not limited to the DNA panel of molds tested and will show a wide spectrum of mold types and species that are active in the sample. 

Dust testing with MSQPCR and Viable Culture is recommended for the initial screening of a home. 

Depending on the size and layout of the home, multiple samples would be recommended (typically one sample for every 500-1,000 square feet). 

The next step would be an inspection by a qualified IEP (Indoor Environmental Professional) who is familiar with the standards of Medically Important Assessment and Remediation (like us!).  This inspection would consist of a physical evaluation of the structure, focusing on identifying potential problem areas and may include additional sampling based on our findings and recommendations. We/the IEP would provide a written report with recommendations for remediation. 

Please note that the ERMI score can be misleading and the value of the information provided by this test is in the analysis of the levels of the individual mold species, best interpreted by a qualified professional.  

"Medically Important" means that remediation is being initiated in response to concerns regarding possible adverse health effects acquired following exposure to the indoor environment of a water-damaged building. 

The standard for Medically Important Remediation deviates from the industry standard with a greater focus on chemical sensitivities, small particle cleaning, more aggressive recommendations for removal of materials, a more comprehensive approach for structural and personal property decontamination, and a higher standard for post remediation verification.

There are five phases to a successful remediation project:

1. Identify and remediate known and obvious water damage areas/visible mold.

2. Perform a detailed assessment of the balance of the home to further identify potential sources of contamination. 

3. Perform remediation of areas identified in step two. 

4. Perform a whole house decontamination (structure and contents). 

5. Perform all necessary structural and finish repairs. 

No!  Whether the mold is dead or alive does not change the need for remediation. Mold will die over time in the absence of elevated moisture levels, but dead mold is still allergenic and toxigenic. 

Chemical treatment of mold can cause molds to produce mycotoxins which will increase exposure risks. The only way to get rid of mold is physical removal and detailed cleaning with manual methods. 

No!  Encapsulation will only cover the exposed surface and many times mold contamination will be on multiple surfaces and materials under what you can actually see and touch.  Additionally, the encapsulation may break down over time which will create eventual exposure. There are also chemical exposure considerations for any product that may be applied.  Sometimes the effects from chemical exposure can be just as harmful and lasting as the effects from mold exposure. 

You shouldn't use mold as the determining factor in your decision to move. If you are already considering moving or are not planning to be in the home for an extended period of time, then your remediation plan could be strategically minimized, but some degree of remediation would likely still be necessary. 

Things to consider regarding moving:

Regardless of if you move or if you stay, your contents will still need to be processed. This is one of the more difficult and challenging steps of the remediation. 

When selling your home you would need to disclose any known mold issues, so many times the remediation would need to be performed anyway or the cost would be taken out of the sale price. 

If you decide to move, plan to inspect and remediate your new home.  It is likely that any home that you would move into also has mold which would need to be remediated. In fact, it’s possible that the new home could be more contaminated than your current home. 

Here are some reputable resources for Medically Important Remediation: 

 www.survivingmold.com/resources-for-patients

iseai.org

www.cirsx.com

changetheairfoundation.org

iaqa.org