The process of mold testing Los Angeles is not too complicated. It entails carrying out tests using certain methods to determine the presence of mold. Testing techniques make it possible to know the kind of mold present in the place being tested.
You should understand the different testing methods to be in a position to determine whether mold is present at a warehouse, home or any other place being tested. Continue reading to learn a number of techniques involved when testing mold.
The non-viable air testing issue
This is one of the most conventional places used by a lot of experts when testing for mold in a lab. A plastic cassette is typically used to draw in air in the place being tested. This could be a store or a warehouse. Air is usually drawn for a specific duration. It is crucial to remember that during the process, mold and other particulates are usually on a slide when the air is drawn. The air being drawn impacts the mold on the slide.
The slider is then put into a microscope. A technician doing the testing will then count the number of spores of mold and figure out the mold species present. It isn’t usually positive to determine the precise number of species using this testing method.
Viable air testing
This testing method isn’t as common as the non-viable testing method above. However, this mold testing method offers more information compared to other mold collection and testing techniques. The biggest benefit of this method is that it allows you to differentiate different species of mold with similar appearances and characteristics. This makes it very effective for contrasting results when doing a mold count in a particular place.
This testing method has its setbacks.It is time-consuming and costly. It requires several media types to provide an ideal growing condition for each species type.
Sampling method
This testing method is usually done on suspect material with a view of determining the growth of mold and the type of mold species present. Its main focus is usually on qualitative outcomes rather than quantitative outcomes. This method is further divided into subcategories that can be used for a unique purpose. These subdivisions include tape lift, bulk materials, swab sampling and dust sampling.
Testing kits
You may be interested to know whether there is a difference between testing kits that professionals used and the ones sold in hardware. There is a huge difference between the two. If you want to use a DIY testing kit, you should go with the Petri dish sampling method.
Experts use different kits to get reliable results. They use a calibrated pump to draw in air and pass it through the petri dish. When you use a DIY kit, you should leave it in the open air for days so that gravity can bring down the mold spores to the plate. It is hard to quantify data when you use DIY mold testing Los Angeles because the variables can’t be controlled.
