RE: Inexpensive Screening Test for Mold: Author's Response to Replies

[Guest guest]

This would be a good tool for a remediation crew, or just for individuals to determine if they should press for the more expensive samples. However, the more expensive samples hold water in court, so these should be used if court evidence is the probable use of the results.

E. Brad Marsh http://www.mycustomboots.com

[Marsh, Brad]

-----Original Message-----From: dankerschensteiner [mailto:dankerschensteiner@...]Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 6:50 AM Subject: [] Inexpensive Screening Test for Mold: Author's Response to Replies

Name: Dan ()Date: 10-17-02 06:08Homepage: First, I thank all of you who have responded to my request for suggestions regarding " an inexpensive screening test for mold." They were very helpful. It appears that there is a "thread" that suggests that "professional" and "trained" interpretation is the best, even when expensive. Current methods include 1) collecting spores/hyphae by sticky tape contact or by pulling air via a pump and collecting spores onto a sticky filter. These are then analyzed by trained people using microscopic techniques. These enumerate viable (living) and nonviable components. 2) culturing methods of a collected sample. These enumerate viable parts of the sample and do require trained labor for interpretation. I believe that these methods are too dependent on trained labor, yield results that are too detailed to be useful, and are time consuming. What is needed is what I have to offer: An inexpensive (not a $300-$600 calibrated pump) vacuum that is used to sample 1) air for spores 2) solid surfaces for organisms 3) carpet for residue. This can be done by anyone, professional or consumer alike. The solid residue in the airstream is collected by electrostatic/adsorbant wafers that hold the collection. Multiple wafers collect replicate samples coincidentally. The wafers are then processed by 1) the addition of proprietary reagents which react with and detect fungi producing a color change whose intensity is proportional to the viable and nonviable mold collected in them. This is performed on the site in a matter of minutes. From this result, if deemed necessary, a duplicate wafer that had been collected simultaneously is processed using culturing techniques. These can be done professionally or sent to a central lab as is the case currently with some DIY methods. As one can see, all the rooms and floors of a residence or commercial building can be done easily with prompt results. This is a screening test: low mold OK; high mold bad and test further that specific area more thoroughly. Again, any suggestions or criticisms? Please contact me. All are welcome. Thanks. FAIR USE NOTICE:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.