There is a scientific method for identifying mold referred to as mold testing. The professionals run the necessary tests using set techniques to identify not just the presence of mold, but also the types. After identifying the species of mold, the professionals are then able to recommend a suitable way forward.
Mold remediation in Denver Co is about removing, cleaning, sanitizing, and treating mold. It also includes preventive activities that one may recommend for mold-prone areas. Professionals use the following mold testing methods:
Non-viable air test
If you want to go for conventional methods, ask your contractor to use this one to test for mold presence.To begin, using a sample bottle, the contractor draws samples from the place suspected to be infested. Air will then be collected for a period. During the process, other particulates may mix into the air. The test will look for the presence of mold on the sides or floor of the sample bottle. The bottle may also be studied under a microscope after that. The technician counts the number of mold spores, then tries to identify the species. This method cannot establish the specific species types in a sample.
Viable air test
Viable air testing is not very common. However, this method allows one to get specific information they might not get from other techniques. Most importantly, this method will enable one to identify different mold species by their appearances and characteristics. Consequently, one can contrast results and perform a mold count. The downside of this method is that it tends to be time-consuming and costly. One needs different media types to get an ideal situation to grow the mold.
Surface sampling
In surface sampling, the technician looks at the sample to try and identify mold and how much of it grows. The main focus of the sampling is to get a qualitative assessment of an infested area, instead of quantitative ones. The method can be divided according to purpose. However, one has to use bulk material, swab samples, and dust samples.
Testing kit
A kit can be used by a professional as the basis to establish what method will be ideal. Even though these kits are sold in hardware stores, using them effectively typically requires some expertise on the part of the user; otherwise, the results would likely be less than ideal. A testing kit is best used alongside sampling methods or other mold testing techniques.
During an inspection, experts like to use different kits to achieve positive outcomes. In most cases, they use calibrated pumps to draw air into the petri dishes. However, it’s sometimes better to simply leave the petri dishes open to collect samples on their own. Knowing which collection method to use is usually the result of plenty of experience in mold remediation.
Expect your contractor to carry out up to three tests. The idea is for them to get accurate results to offer efficient mold infestation control recommendations. The results should be enough to assist come up with ways to keep all kinds of mold at bay. No matter which method is used, with quantifiable data, mold control will most likely be more effective.
