A moldy story

'Your Allergy Nurse' shares her own moldy story

Mold and mildew testing for the home

May 22, 2002

Mold testing is available from several sources. The method and quality of the test will depend on which source you use.

For professional testing, look in the yellow pages under "Industrial Hygenist." You can also ask your local county extension agency, your allergist, or a local air duct cleaning service if they know who does professional mold testing in your area.

I started by talking with Mike McMahon of McMahon's Air Duct Cleaning Service in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He gave me lots of helpful advice. If you are in the Fort Smith area, you may want to email him or give him a call. He also does some work in Indiana. See his website here:
McMahon's Air Cleaning Services.

Mike provided the name of a local person who does mold testing professionally. He also told me of another company who could do a complete mold renovation.

However, my household insurance does not cover this and my budget did not allow professional testing or a total renovation. Since there is no evidence of moisture in the attic area directly over the moldy ceiling, we felt a "do-it-yourself" project should take care of the problem.

If you decide to "do-it-yourself," it is important to follow some safety measures. The Oregon Public Health Services lists some of them here.

I started with mold testing. As a professional, I was given a complimentary "Allergen Alert" test from Greer Laboratories. Later I ordered a "Mold Test Kit" from National Allergy Supply.

The Allergen Alert tests for four molds as well as dustmite, cat, dog, and cockroach. Two small plastic collection bags are supplied, and they are to be attached inside the hose of a vacuum cleaner. A 2'x2' area of carpet in the room tested is vacuumed for 2-3 minutes. If the room is not carpeted, it is suggested to vacuum upholstered surfaces in the room.

Since my bathroom is not carpeted, and has no upholstered furniture, I vaccumed the bathroom curtain and the moldy ceiling, as well as dust I'd allowed to collect on the tile floor for a few days. I vacuumed a 2'x2' section by my bed as suggested for the bedroom. I mailed these in the postage-paid mailer provided in the kit.

I received in the mail another kit explaining that I did not collect enough dust in the bathroom and to try again. Since there is no carpet there, I vacuumed the carpet just outside the bathroom door.

Test results indicated high levels of Alternaria, moderate levels of Penicillium, and Aspergillius, and low levels of Cladosporium in the bedroom.

High levels of Cladosporium and Aspergillus were reported from the carpet outside the bathroom, as well as moderate levels of Alternaria and low levels of Penicillium.

We've included a link to Greer Laboratories on our Resources page.

The Mold Test Kit from National Allergy Supply is much different. I received three Petri dishes (round plastic containers with mold culture medium inside). Instructions were to place these opened dishes on a table in separate rooms for 30 minutes, then cover, label, and mail them, using the pre-paid mailer.

I did the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen. Test results are indicated by numbers of colonies of each mold.

The bedroom result was Cladosporium - 1 colony, Penicillium - 2 colonies, and Rhizopus - 1 colony. The kitchen was reported as Penicillium - 2 colonies, and Rhizopus - 1 colony. The kitchen and bedroom are at opposite ends of the house, but both had moldy air conditioners in them.

The bathroom report indicated only one mold -- Cladosporium - 2 colonies. The bathroom is near the bedroom, thus explaining why Cladosporium was found in the bedroom also, but not in the kitchen at the other end of the house.

I found some inconsistency between the Allergen Alert and the Mold Test Kit reports. However they were done about a month apart. Mold levels change with environmental and seasonal changes.

In addition, the Allergy Alert bathroom test was not actually done in the bathroom, but the carpet outside the bathroom door.