You’re in the bathroom one morning, and you notice the plastic backsplash behind your toilet is pealing on one corner, so you decide to pull back the sheeting to have a closer look, and you notice that it’s all black back there. You’re not sure what it is, but you’ve heard of that nasty black mold and are concerned for your health. So how do you find out if it’s black mold or not? In this article, I will explain to you how to test for black mold. But before I do that, let me tell you a little bit about black mold.
What is black mold?
The term black mold has been used in the news media to describe dangerous or toxic mold, but the truth is that there is no such thing as a species of mold called “black mold.” Mold spores come in different colors and can be dangerous no matter what the color is. So the real question is then is how to test for mold?
Like the intro’s scenario, you find black mold behind plastic sheeting or tile in your bathroom; what should you do? First, I recommend avoiding touching the material as it potentially contains mold that can be a serious health hazard. This mold could be toxigenic, meaning that it can produce mycotoxins that can be easily absorbed through the skin, inhaled, and ingested. The spores are capable of causing severe allergies and other health problems, even leading to death. If you want to have a closer look at underneath the sheeting, wear some latex gloves at a minimum, then throw them away in a trash bin outside your home.
How to test for black mold?
Resist the temptation of removing the mold yourself without proper training and PPE. Suppose you try to clean the contaminated surface. In that case, you disturb the mold spores, which will then be deposited on other materials in your home, thus spreading and multiplying the mold spores exacerbating the issue. It is wise to collect a piece and send a sample to test for mold at a mold testing lab. To get an example, get yourself a sandwich bag and some clean cotton swabs, gently rub the affected area with the cotton swab and place it in the plastic bag. Collect at least two samples. Label the bags with a number and location. Another option is to use a piece of packing tape. Cut a 3-inch piece, place the adhesive tape to the infected surface, and lift the tape off the surface to collect a copy of the specimen, place it on a plastic sandwich bag. Take at least two samples from different areas. Label the bag with a number and location.
You are now ready to send your samples to test for mold at a mold testing lab for analysis. The laboratory will examine the specimen under Phase Contract Microscopy and will send you the result by email or hard copies if you wish. The process takes as little as one business day from receipt for a turnaround.
What does it cost to test for mold?
It can cost between $50 to $60 per sample to test for mold, and should including a full report with a glossary of fungi.
Mold Testing Lab
If you suspect mold at your house and need verification, don’t hesitate to contact 5 Microns Inc for assistance. You can send a sample for mold testing directly to us, and we can get you the results as quickly as one business day from receipt. Please find our details below.
Where can I send a sample to test for mold?
Mail-In Asbestos Testing Address *at Tabor 100 co-working offices:
5 Microns Inc.
7100 Fort Dent Way #100
Tukwila, WA 98188
Download and fill out our chain of custody form and include it with your shipment
IMPORTANT-MUST READ FIRST: All mail-in samples must have a tracking number and include our asbestos chain of custody form to be processed. If the chain of custody form is missing, your sample(s) will not be accepted and processed. Drop-offs MUST have the COC form inside your package but not in the sample bag. DO NOT MAIL YOUR SAMPLES BY FIRST CLASS MAIL. Send your sample(s) via USPS Priority Mail, UPS, and FedEx. It is essential to closely follow these directions so our asbestos testing lab can promptly process your sample(s).
*PLEASE NOTE FOR ALL DROP-OFFS: All samples must be dropped off at the back of the office building located at 7100 Fort Dent Way Tukwila WA outside the Tabor 100 Office and placed inside the black dropbox pictured below. Do not take your samples to the front desk. The front desk will not accept drop-offs over the counter, NO EXCEPTIONS!
