Frequently Asked Questions

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!

The cost is $26 per sample layer for up to 3 days TAT (turn-around time) from receipt. Kindly include a personal check with your sample(s). We also accept PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to make your payment. After receiving payment, we will release your report.

If you would like your results in under 24 hours, call 425-440-8787, or email us to get a quote.

You only need to test for asbestos when you disturb asbestos-containing material as defined by the EPA. When asbestos-containing material is removed, the fibers become loose and airborne, making them easier to inhale.

An asbestos testing lab will examine the material; a sample is analyzed by Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) to determine the presence, type, and percentage of asbestos in the model. Samples can also be analyzed by electron microscopy, which may be useful for analyzing floor tile or other products where asbestos may have been processed into tiny and delicate fibers.

No, we only perform the inspection and testing; as performing both testing and abatement work is a conflict of interest.

One of the most common questions we hear at our asbestos testing lab is, “What exactly is asbestos?”

Asbestos is found naturally all over the world. Today, the main exporters of asbestos include Russia and China but only a few short decades ago it was mined throughout Canada and the United States. Interestingly, 55 countries have banned the use of asbestos in manufacturing but it’s still legal in the U.S. and Canada. This means that you can find asbestos just about anywhere. If you suspect you have asbestos in your home, it makes sense to send a material sample to our asbestos testing lab and find out whether your suspicions are correct.

Between $550-$900. The latter is for a demolition asbestos survey.

Testing can be done as quickly as the same day with a rush fee of $55; and 24 hours up to two weeks.

We accept all major credit cards through PayPal. You do not need to have an account to make your payment. We also accept checks, but we do not accept eChecks. Your payment is due once the report is ready. We will release your report when your payment is received via email or by mail if you prefer.

Yes, we do offer mail-in asbestos testing. Click here for details.

You can usually identify ceiling tile with asbestos in older buildings, traditionally built in the ’60s. The tiles often measure 1′ x 1′ with small perforations for decorative effect. The tiles are put in place using glue. This adhesive—also-known-as glue dot—typically contains asbestos.

Testing asbestos-containing material for the presence of asbestos once the material is in the hands of a laboratory microscopist only takes a few minutes. He has to process the asbestos-containing material to make it small enough to place it on a microscope slide to read under Polarized Light Microscopy. Air samples are usually analyzed under Phase Contrast Microscopy. The ladder test is generally conducted when asbestos is already known to be present and is used to ensure that the amount of fibers present is not above the EPA recommended limit.