MOLD INSPECTIONS & MOLD TESTING

Non-Invasive means we do not cut open walls, tear up floors, rip out cabinets, etc. AMI inspections are technology-based using state-of-the-art inspection equipment such as infrared cameras and moisture detection instruments to avoid destructive inspection procedures. If your mold inspection is not conducted with infrared thermal imaging, your inspection is inconclusive.

Mold and Conditions That Cause Mold means the inspection focuses on more than just obvious mold growth. We inspection the interior interior and exterior of the structure for any conditions that are commonly associated with indoor mold growth.

Even with the latest and greatest technology available, a non-invasive inspection can have certain limitations. As a rule, identifying mold problems and their source is fairly straightforward and can be done with just a cursory visual inspection. Other times however, a red flag or suspicious condition is detected, such as water damage, high moisture retention in a wall, etc., but no visible mold growth is seen. At that point the visual inspection has reached its limitation. That's where testing comes in.

What Is Mold Testing?
Mold testing involves the collection of samples for one or both of the following purposes:

1. To assess the likelihood that mold growth has occurred in suspect areas that are not visible at the time of inspection.
    
2. To assess the probability that indoor mold growth has negatively impacted the indoor air quality of a structure.

In other words; Is mold growing in indoors where it cannot be seen, and is it a health risk?

Mold Sample Types:
There are three primary methods of testing for mold indoors; surface samples, air samples, and dust samples.

1. Surface Sampling:
The purpose of surface sampling is to evaluate whether a suspected stain, discoloration, blemish, or other irregular appearance on a surface is mold.  Just as the name implies, surface samples are used to identify what type of mold - if any - may be growing on a specific surface, such as construction materials or personal contents. Surface samples are usually taken with a sterile cotton swab or tape lift and are only relevant to the exact area where the sample is taken. As such, surface samples are not to be relied upon for conducting risk assessment as it relates to airborne mold spore levels.

When Should Surface Samples Be Taken in a Mold Inspection?
As a rule, surface samples are unnecessary. Seeing visible mold growing indoors is enough to confirm that there is a mold problem. Mold should never be growing on any construction materials indoors or on any of your personal contents stored indoors. Occasionally however, it can be difficult to distinguish the difference between mold and dirt with a visual inspection alone. For that reason, it is important to define your objective before deciding on whether or not to sample a surface for mold. The four most common questions people have for sampling surfaces are:
1) Is a certain stain or discoloration mold or dirt?
2) What are the specific types of mold present on a surface?
3) Is the mold on a surface viable or non-viable (alive or dead)?
4) Is the mold on a surface the same mold that was found in an air sample taken from the same location?

If your objective for sampling suspected mold on a surface is not one of these four reasons, surface sampling may be unnecessary. To discuss your specific situation and whether or not surface sampling will answer any questions you have, call an AMI Certified Inspector for a no-cost consultation.

2. Air Sampling:
The purpose of air sampling is to evaluate the probability that an elevated or unusual mold condition exists indoors when such a determination cannot be made by visual observation alone.

In a non-invasive inspection it is not always possible to visually determine if a "suspect condition", such as water damage or moisture is in fact a mold problem or not (see pictures of hidden mold growth - right). Testing airborne mold spore levels near a suspect condition provides analytical data that can be used to either confirm or rule out hidden mold growth. 

When Should Air Samples Be Taken for Mold Testing?
If you suspect you have a mold problem, don't wait until you can visually see it. Many people who call AMI say, "I don't see any mold". But the fact is, most mold problems go unnoticed long before any visible signs appear, and the costliest mold repair jobs are the ones that no one knew were there until after the damage is done.

Mold growth can spread exponentially inside walls, under under cabinets and floors, above ceilings, and deep into heating and air conditioning vents as long as the right conditions exist. By the time hidden mold is detected, it can cause thousands of dollars in property damage and pose significant health risks.

The time to test for mold is when you suspect you might have a mold problem. If you smell musty odors indoors, you have a reason to have a mold inspection. If you've had a roof leak, a plumbing leak, or a flood (past or present) a mold testing is certainly warranted. Prompt action can mean the difference between an inexpensive repair project or a several thousand dollar mold remediation job and health implications.

To the right of this text is an example of how hidden mold in a bathroom can cause damage long before it becomes visible. These pictures were taken on an actual AMI inspection.

3. ERMI Dust Sampling:
According to a recent survey by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) using a patented indoor mold testing technology developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 75% of homes with a history of water intrusion tested positive for 26 specific molds that are directly linked to asthma and other respiratory illness.

The test is called the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, or ERMI, and just one gram of dust will show if these 26 molds are in your home, office or classroom.

The purpose an ERMI dust sample is to provide a single-sample solution to determine whether a building has an elevated mold burden which may be an indication of a current or prior water intrusion event that resulted in mold growth, and an increased risk of respiratory illness.

When Should the ERMI Sample Be Taken for Mold Testing?
An EMRI sample is ideal for identifying mold problems:

* If you have bought or are considering buying a property and there is no visible indication or disclosure of a mold problem or prior water intrusion event.

* If you had a mold or water intrusion episode in a building that was remediated but no post-remediation clearance test was done.

* If you are experiencing health problems and you suspect your symptoms are linked to exposure to high concentrations of mold.

ERMI mold samples report individual quantifications of each mold species and sub-species found in a building that are linked to water intrusion and various respiratory diseases such as Asthma, Chronic Sinusitis, and Infant Wheezing. Then "scores" the sample to determine the level of mold exposure to occupants of the building.

The ERMI panel includes 26 mold species that are known to thrive in water damaged homes and 10 species found in all homes, with or without water damage. Each species and group of species is enumerated from DNA extracted from dust collected in the building.

Concentrations of each of the 36 molds are then used to derive an “ERMI score” which rates the over-all moldiness of the building compared to other buildings tested by the US-EPA. ERMI scores range from approximately –10 (low moldiness) to 20 (high moldiness). Homes and and other buildings that receive a high ERMI score are more likely to have unwanted indoor mold growth than those that receive a low ERMI score.

What are the advantages of an ERMI Test?
In addition to the simplicity of taking only one sample, the ERMI offers several advantages over traditional mold screening methods. Carpet dust acts as a reservoir for mold spores and is more representative of mold levels over time versus short term air samples. The use of mold-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MSQPCR), a highly specific DNA-based method for quantifying mold species, allows for increased precision as it is based on a biochemical assay using calibrated instrumentation.

For more information or to speak with Certified Mold Inspector about how these services apply to your specific situation, call:

1-800-369-8532

Detecting Mold Problems 
Any of the following conditions around your property warrant a professional mold inspection.