What Is The Best Mold Test?

About this video

• Video Title: What Is The Best Mold Test?
• Channel: IAQ Josh
• Speakers: Josh (IAQ Josh)
• Duration: 00:24:27

Overview

This video by IAQ Josh discusses the various types of mold testing available. Josh explains the methodologies, advantages, and disadvantages of air, surface, dust, mycotoxin, and MVOC testing, ultimately concluding that the "best" mold test is a combination of methods guided by a qualified professional and a thorough visual investigation.

Key takeaways

• Four Main Types of Mold Testing: The video categorizes mold testing into air testing, surface testing, dust testing, and MVOC (chemical/odor) testing.
• Air Testing Methods: Discusses spore trap sampling (common, uses microscopy, can't distinguish viable/non-viable spores), culturable air samples (identifies viable spores, can speciate, uses growth media), Instascope (real-time detection, good for source tracking), Micrometer (near real-time, broader fungal load, requires chemistry, aggressive sampling recommended), and airborne mycotoxin testing (newer technology, Eliza analysis).
• Surface Testing Techniques: Covers tape lifts (confirms presence, genus-level results via microscopy, struggles with moist surfaces), swab samples (good for irregular/moist/porous surfaces, disrupts structure), and bulk samples (collecting a piece of the material itself for lab analysis).
• Dust Sampling: Explains vacuum and wipe collection methods. Analyzes dust using DNA-based methods like HERmethy and HERmethy 2 (qPCR) for mold identification, or custom qPCR for a broader species list. Also covers dust-based mycotoxin testing using Eliza.
• Mycotoxin Testing: Differentiates between airborne and dust-based mycotoxin testing, both using Eliza analysis. Dust-based mycotoxin testing from settled dust provides insight into long-term exposure.
• MVOC Testing: Focuses on testing for microbial volatile organic compounds, which are gases produced by mold metabolism that cause odors. Uses specialized canisters (Suma, mini, sorbent tubes) and GCMS analysis.
• The "Best" Mold Test is Comprehensive: Josh emphasizes that no single test is universally "best." The ideal approach involves a qualified indoor environmental professional, a combination of tests tailored to the situation, and a crucial, exhaustive visual inspection of the property.