You recently had some popcorn ceiling texture and drywall removed at your house, and you are told by a friend that you should have tested the material for asbestos before disturbing them. Now you are concerned with dust residue from that job strewn about your home and want to know how to test for asbestos dust.
How to test for asbestos
There is a couple of ways to go about getting a sample of dust tested for the presence of asbestos. You can perform this task yourself and drop it off or send the material to an asbestos testing lab for analysis, or you can hire a certified asbestos professional to complete the work. If you are going to do this yourself, I recommend wearing a P-100 respirator when handling asbestos dust, turn off all fans, ventilation systems, close the window in the room, and get some latex gloves. Use tiny plastic containers or Ziploc® bags for the dust. Pickup the dust with a clean sheet of paper and place it in the bag or container; you can also use a piece of clear packing tape by placing the sticky park of the tape on the dust and lifting a dust sample, then placing the tape on the sandwich bag after getting a dust sample. You should collect at least two pieces from different areas. Make sure to number and label the location of your models on each bag or container. Then find a local asbestos testing lab where you can drop off your samples or find a lab online where you can send your pieces for testing. The lab technician will analyze your samples using TEM or PLM microscopy.
Asbestos testing cost
Testing cost for asbestos dust samples will be between $50-$130 per sample, depending on the method used and the selected turnaround time for the results. TEM tends to be the most expansive method. If you choose to hire an expert, you will need to add $250 to that cost.
Asbestos testing lab
If you need dust tested for asbestos, you can contact 5 Microns Inc for assistance. We provide reliable results within our standard two business days from receipt. We also have 24-hour and same-day turnaround available. Would you please not hesitate to contact us for details? You can call us at 425-440-8787 Mon-Fri from 9-5, and Saturday from 9-3:30. Email: clientservices@5microns.tech. 7100 Fort Dent Way, #100 Tukwila, WA 98188. We also offer mail-in asbestos testing. Please read the information below for mail-in instructions.
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 piece (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).
Asbestos testing lab near me
Do not take your samples to the front desk. The front desk will not accept drop-offs over the counter, NO EXCEPTIONS!*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 drop-box pictured below.
Asbestos testing near me
5 Microns Inc.
7100 Fort Dent Way #100
Tukwila, WA 98188
425-440-8787
Clientservices@5microns.tech
5 Microns Inc.
O 425-440-8787
M-F 9-5, Sat 9-3:30
Asbestos
Mold
Drinking-Water
Radon Gas
Air Quality
Testing Lab
MBE, DBE: D3M0026650
