Testing Process
How is Your Indoor Air Quality?
Testing Process
We aim to find the contamination sources in the house and analyze their impact on other areas via dispersion. This data helps in creating a remediation plan.
- Each home requires a unique and different sampling strategy.
- An inspection is necessary to determine the appropriate sampling strategy.
On the right side there are 3 types of samples work with.
3 Types of Samples
1.Samples for identifying the source.
- Air & Swab testing
2. Samples for dispersion analysis.
- ERMI and Mycotoxin testing
3. Samples taken progressively over time.
- Actinobacteria, Endotoxin,
Formaldehyde & VOC testing
It helps us to develop the remediation plan that focuses on source removal.
- Air Testing – We collect samples from enclosed spaces within walls, floors, ceilings, and other small areas to detect concealed mold resulting from past or present moisture problems.
- Swab Testing – Samples are gathered from any visible mold growth on surfaces like walls, toilet tanks, ventilation systems, etc., to confirm sources of contamination in a specific area.
Air and swab samples detect the contamination source and extent in the affected areas.
These samples help establish proper cleaning protocols for the house. Dispersion samples, such as ERMI and Mycotoxin, test for mold by-products dispersed during its life cycle, collected from settled dust in ventilation, heating systems, ductwork, contents, or specific rooms.
- ERMI Testing – DNA sequencing is used to identify the type of mold present in the house. The type of mold is essential because it can tell us how harmful it can be. The ERMI test helps to identify the amount and how much the mold has spread throughout the house from the source of the problem.
- Mycotoxin Testing – Sensitive tests are used to find out if certain types of poisons made by mold (called Mycotoxins) are present in the house. These poisons are made by mold to protect their food and themselves from enemies.
Usually, mold makes our home unhealthy, but sometimes other bad things like germs or chemicals can also make us sick.
Bacterial:
- Actinobacteria Testing – The most common type of bacteria found in homes with water damage are called Actinomycetes.
- Endotoxin Testing – Endotoxin testing checks for harmful substances found within the outer layer membrane of the cell wall.
Chemical:
- Formaldehyde Testing – A gas called formaldehyde is used to make things like wood products, glues, fabrics, and some types of insulation in our homes.
- VOC Testing – Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that can be found in things like paint, cleaning products, and things we use for hobbies. These chemicals can turn into gas and get into the air we breathe.
When we use things like cleaning products, paints, and hobbies materials, they can make a type of chemical that can get into the air we breathe. This can happen even when we’re not using them. Inside our homes, the levels of these chemicals can be higher than outside.
