Testing for fungal spores, colonies and hyphae, mycotoxins, too

[Guest guest]

_http://www.indoorairresearch.net/_ (http://www.indoorairresearch.net/)

This is the link to Texas Tech University's Indoor Air Research Program's

" Send Us Samples " link - with directions, fees, etc.

They also test for mycotoxins, very important to know that.

Sample Identification

Mold related samples can be supplied to the laboratory for identification and

where necessary, enumeration of molds. Molds are identified to species level

where practical.

*Please fill out a Chain of Custody form for each submission of samples

Laboratory Analyses Fee Schedule

Identification and enumeration of fungal colonies from agar plates

Fungi are identified to genus level and species level wherever possible. Agar

plates are supplied to the laboratory. Due to fungal growth requirements,

turnaround time is generally 7-10 working days.

Cost: $40.00

Identification and enumeration of fungal spores, pollen particles, fibers,

etc from spore traps such as Air-O-Cell slides, Allergenco slides, Burkard,

etc.

Fungal spores are identified to genus level and species level wherever

possible. Spore traps are supplied to the laboratory. Generally 2-4 working days

turnaround time, depending on laboratory workflow.

Cost: $40.00

Identification and enumeration of fungal colonies from bulk samples.

Fungal identification to genus level and to species level wherever possible.

Samples supplied to the laboratory. Due to fungal growth requirements,

turnaround time is generally 7-10 working days.

Cost: $40.00

Identification of fungal spores and hyphae from tape slides only

Fungal spores identified to genus level and to species level where possible.

Tape slides supplied to the laboratory. Average of 1 day turnaround time.

Cost $25.00

Identification of fungal spores and hyphae from tape slides plus

identification of fungal colonies from an accompanying swab to the tape slide.

Fungal identification to genus level and to species level wherever possible.

Tape slides and swab supplied to the laboratory. Average of 1 working day

turnaround time for tape slides. Due to fungal growth requirements, turnaround

time for swabs is generally 7-10 working days.

Cost: $40.00

Miscellaneous

Human biological specimens (blood, sputum, etc.) are not accepted or

processed by this laboratory.

Transportation costs of all samples are the responsibility of the supplier.

Suppliers receive an invoice in conjunction with a sample result. Payment can

be made by cash or check only. Checks should be made payable to TTUHSC.

The prices and services advertised on this site are subject to change

without notice. If you have questions pertaining to the type of sampling you

need

done or cost estimates, please contact the lab by phone at (806) 743-2466.

All lab fees as of March 14, 2003

Instructions for Taking Samples

Surface Sampling (Swabs and Tape lifts):

Suspect surfaces should be sampled by rubbing area with sterile cotton

swabs. The area swabbed should be noted in the documentation. If the sampled

area cannot be measured, it should be recorded in the documentation and the

results will be reported as CFU per swab. The swabs should be placed in

sterile

plastic containers, which are then sealed and labeled for shipment.

If the surface sample is taken concurrently with a tape lift, this should be

designated as a tape slide/surface (swab) combination sample. The tape lift

technique involves the use of clear tape that contacts a suspect surface.

The tape is affixed to a glass slide and placed in a plastic container, sealed

and labeled. In addition to the tape slide sample, surface (or swab)

samples (as described above) are retrieved from the same area that the tape

slide

is taken. The swab should be placed in sterile plastic containers, sealed

and labeled.

See figure 1; (a), (, ©, (d) and (e) for swab and tape lift sampling

techniques. Also see chapter 12 of the American Council of Government

Industrial

Hygienists text: “Bioaerosols, assessment and controlâ€. ACGIH 1999.

They can now measure mycotoxins, too - a new test they developed.

Toxin Testing: Trichothecene Mycotoxins

We currently offer two methods of mycotoxin testing. These methods confirm

the presence of mycotoxins. One method, the QuantiTox Kit method, is more

specific and sensitive than the other test which is a Yeast Toxicity Assay.

These tests determine the presence trichothecene mycotoxins (primarily

macrocyclic in nature) only. Stachybotrys chartarum, " Black Mold, " can produce

trichothecene mycotoxins.

Note: Neither test distinguishes between mycotoxins accompanied or

unaccompanied by spores.

QuantiTox Kits supplied by _EnviroLogix

_ (http://www.envirologix.com/) 500 Riverside Industrial Parkway, Portland,

Maine 04103

phone: 1-866-408-4597 or 1-207-797-0300 fax: 1-207-797-7533

email: _info@..._ (mailto:info@...)

Select Test Type for further Information.

Test Type Price

_Yeast Toxicity Assay _

(http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd?GMResults & loc=nccs)

$150.00/sample

_Trichothecene ELISA_

(http://www.envirologix.com/artman/publish/article_88.shtml) *

$200.00 for 1-2 samples

Results for 1-25 samples requires 5 working days.

Note: Toxin testing only - samples requiring culturing will take an

additional seven working days to allow the organisms to grow.

*Pricing for this test is based on one row of the ELISA plate. $200.00 is

the price established for sample sets ranging 1 to 2 samples in size.

[Guest guest]

To anyone interested,

I have a better way to determine if macrocyclic trichothecenes like

roriden or satratoxin is present in air samples.

We have been doing some research and have been able to use

the " quantitox " ELISA test and back it up with HPLC. The methods

are a little different than the manufacturer and Texas Tech

University uses.

Samples must be done in the proper manner or you will get " false

negatives " . I have been working with a professor who has many years

of experience with these mycotoxins. I use one of the best

environmental microbiology labs in America.

We have discovered that you can take samples and find no

Stachybotrys by culture methods or sporetraps but, the roriden

mycotoxin was definitely there in the air sample. The only clue was

the rank order was not normal for air samples. Maybe PCR testing

would have shown the presense but, a client can not afford this

testing generally.

If anyone has a really good situation where you need to prove route

of entry via inhalation, contact me. I cannot share laboratory

methods.

Regards,

Greg Weatherman

aerobioLogical Solutions Inc.

Arlington VA 22202

gw@...

*******************************************************************

> They can now measure mycotoxins, too - a new test they developed.

>

>

> Toxin Testing: Trichothecene Mycotoxins

> We currently offer two methods of mycotoxin testing. These

methods confirm

> the presence of mycotoxins. One method, the QuantiTox Kit

method, is more

> specific and sensitive than the other test which is a Yeast

Toxicity Assay.

> These tests determine the presence trichothecene mycotoxins

(primarily

> macrocyclic in nature) only. Stachybotrys chartarum, " Black

Mold, " can produce

> trichothecene mycotoxins.

>

> Note: Neither test distinguishes between mycotoxins accompanied

or

> unaccompanied by spores.

> QuantiTox Kits supplied by _EnviroLogix

> _ (http://www.envirologix.com/) 500 Riverside Industrial Parkway,

Portland,

> Maine 04103

> phone: 1-866-408-4597 or 1-207-797-0300 fax: 1-207-797-7533

> email: _info@e..._ (mailto:info@e...)

> Select Test Type for further Information.

> Test Type Price

> _Yeast Toxicity Assay _

> (http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd?

GMResults & loc=nccs) $150.00/sample

> _Trichothecene ELISA_

> (http://www.envirologix.com/artman/publish/article_88.shtml)

* $200.00 for 1-2 samples

> Results for 1-25 samples requires 5 working days.

> Note: Toxin testing only - samples requiring culturing will take

an

> additional seven working days to allow the organisms to grow.

> *Pricing for this test is based on one row of the ELISA plate.

$200.00 is

> the price established for sample sets ranging 1 to 2 samples in

size.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

To anyone interested,

I have a better way to determine if macrocyclic trichothecenes like

roriden or satratoxin is present in air samples.

We have been doing some research and have been able to use

the " quantitox " ELISA test and back it up with HPLC. The methods

are a little different than the manufacturer and Texas Tech

University uses.

Samples must be done in the proper manner or you will get " false

negatives " . I have been working with a professor who has many years

of experience with these mycotoxins. I use one of the best

environmental microbiology labs in America.

We have discovered that you can take samples and find no

Stachybotrys by culture methods or sporetraps but, the roriden

mycotoxin was definitely there in the air sample. The only clue was

the rank order was not normal for air samples. Maybe PCR testing

would have shown the presense but, a client can not afford this

testing generally.

If anyone has a really good situation where you need to prove route

of entry via inhalation, contact me. I cannot share laboratory

methods.

Regards,

Greg Weatherman

aerobioLogical Solutions Inc.

Arlington VA 22202

gw@...

*******************************************************************

> They can now measure mycotoxins, too - a new test they developed.

>

>

> Toxin Testing: Trichothecene Mycotoxins

> We currently offer two methods of mycotoxin testing. These

methods confirm

> the presence of mycotoxins. One method, the QuantiTox Kit

method, is more

> specific and sensitive than the other test which is a Yeast

Toxicity Assay.

> These tests determine the presence trichothecene mycotoxins

(primarily

> macrocyclic in nature) only. Stachybotrys chartarum, " Black

Mold, " can produce

> trichothecene mycotoxins.

>

> Note: Neither test distinguishes between mycotoxins accompanied

or

> unaccompanied by spores.

> QuantiTox Kits supplied by _EnviroLogix

> _ (http://www.envirologix.com/) 500 Riverside Industrial Parkway,

Portland,

> Maine 04103

> phone: 1-866-408-4597 or 1-207-797-0300 fax: 1-207-797-7533

> email: _info@e..._ (mailto:info@e...)

> Select Test Type for further Information.

> Test Type Price

> _Yeast Toxicity Assay _

> (http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd?

GMResults & loc=nccs) $150.00/sample

> _Trichothecene ELISA_

> (http://www.envirologix.com/artman/publish/article_88.shtml)

* $200.00 for 1-2 samples

> Results for 1-25 samples requires 5 working days.

> Note: Toxin testing only - samples requiring culturing will take

an

> additional seven working days to allow the organisms to grow.

> *Pricing for this test is based on one row of the ELISA plate.

$200.00 is

> the price established for sample sets ranging 1 to 2 samples in

size.

>

>

>

>