Re: Holding times of Air-O-Cell cassettes and tape lift samples

[Guest guest]

The man who invented the Air-O-Cell is Dr. M. Baker

Correction. That would be Dan Baxter, not Baker.

ST

[Guest guest]

Is anybody aware of any studies on holding times conducted on Air-O-Cell

cassette samples and tape lift samples.

We are involved in a project that involves a building that contains considerable

water damage and has been found to contain high levels of numerous species

including Stachybotrys (no surprise).

The building is planned to be demolished in the near future. Our client feels

that the building owner will persue litigation in the future and wants to again

conduct sampling prior to the demo. They have asked if we could hold a set of

samples should the building owner want to have them tested independently in the

future, after the building has been torn down.

Obviously there will be some " normal " range of variablity between the samples

obtained, but depending on the length of time between analysis I suspect would

add additional factors which would effect the final results.

Any validity for holding a set of samples for future analysis and how would one

interpret them?

Sincerely,

C. Gray

Vice President

Environmental Services

[Guest guest]

I would think

tape lifts could be held indefinitely. Air-O-Cells have an expiration date, but

that applies to collection more so than holding an already collected sample. As long as the silicone grease doesn't dry out to the point

where the particulates fall off the slide you should be fine...hard to say

how long that is, though. I would guess refrigeration or freezing might

help, but that is a question probably best directed to Zefon International...

D. Carlson, CIAQC, CMRS

Liesch Associates, Inc.

Re: Holding times of

Air-O-Cell cassettes and tape lift samples

Is anybody aware of any studies on holding times

conducted on Air-O-Cell cassette samples and tape lift samples.

We are involved in a project that involves a building

that contains considerable water damage and has been found to contain high

levels of numerous species including Stachybotrys (no surprise).

The building is planned to be demolished in the

near future. Our client feels that the building owner will

persue litigation in the future and wants to again conduct sampling prior to

the demo. They have asked if we could hold a set of samples should

the building owner want to have them tested independently in the future, after

the building has been torn down.

Obviously there will be some " normal " range

of variablity between the samples obtained, but depending on the length of time

between analysis I suspect would add additional factors which would effect

the final results.

Any validity for holding a set of samples for future

analysis and how would one interpret them?

Sincerely,

C. Gray

Vice President

Environmental Services

[Guest guest]

The man who invented the Air-O-Cell is Dr. M. Baker. He has an indoor analytical laboratory that can be reached at . They can likely answer these questions. That phone number was good in November 2005).

Pam Boatright

OSRHE

-----Original Message-----From: iequality [mailto:iequality ] On Behalf Of Bill GraySent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 10:21 AMTo: iequality Subject: Re: Holding times of Air-O-Cell cassettes and tape lift samples

Is anybody aware of any studies on holding times conducted on Air-O-Cell cassette samples and tape lift samples.

[Guest guest]

1. Dan did some stability tests on Air-O-Cells, but I think it was for collection purposes.

2. I have collected a few samples and held them for 1-2 years before analyzing them with only minor difficulties. The sticky media used (a modified MCE) tends to break apart and allow particles to move a bit after extended periods. I have a sneaking suspicion that the addition of moisture during sampling is the cause, allowing some long-term emulsification to take place.

3. You can mount the samples in certain media and have them last years (I have done this with Canadian balsam and I believe Euparal will work better)

4. As for tapes, I have a few from 1998 that are still good. I think the adhesive degradation and non-quantitative nature of tape analysis would permit samples to be held for decades.

Tony

........................................................................... "Tony" Havics, CHMM, CIH, PEpH2, LLCPO Box 34140Indianapolis, IN 46234 cell90% of Risk Management is knowing where to place the decimal point...any consultant can give you the other 10%â„ This message is from pH2. This message and any attachments may contain legally privileged or confidential information, and are intended only for the individual or entity identified above as the addressee. If you are not the addressee, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, you are not authorized to read, copy, or distribute this message and any attachments, and we ask that you please delete this message and attachments (including all copies) and notify the sender by return e-mail or by phone at . Delivery of this message and any attachments to any person other than the intended recipient(s) is not intended in any way to waive confidentiality or a privilege. All personal messages express views only of the sender, which are not to be attributed to pH2 and may not be copied or distributed without this statement.

-----Original Message-----From: iequality [mailto:iequality ] On Behalf Of Boatright, PamelaSent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 11:04 AMTo: iequality Subject: RE: Holding times of Air-O-Cell cassettes and tape lift samples

The man who invented the Air-O-Cell is Dr. M. Baker. He has an indoor analytical laboratory that can be reached at . They can likely answer these questions. That phone number was good in November 2005).

Pam Boatright

OSRHE

-----Original Message-----From: iequality [mailto:iequality ] On Behalf Of Bill GraySent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 10:21 AMTo: iequality Subject: Re: Holding times of Air-O-Cell cassettes and tape lift samples

Is anybody aware of any studies on holding times conducted on Air-O-Cell cassette samples and tape lift samples.

[Guest guest]

Bill,

According to 3M's documents, many 3M Tapes have 1-2

years of shelf-lives (for using). First, let's assume

they are still sticky enough to hold the fungal

structure, which they probably will be. They still

have to be optically clear after using mounting medium

to prepare the microscopic slides. This is the

information that is difficult to get unless there are

some studies done on this. I would strongly advise

you NOT to mount them during holding time because the

tape quality could deteriorate very quickly (in days)

after prepared in the mounting media.

For AOC, the adhesive also have to remain optically

clear for lab analysis. There are expiration dates on

them (for collection). However, after 30 to 150 L of

air passing through the adhesive, it might have some

drying effect on the adhesive. You should contact

Zefon for holding time after collection. Again,

mounting the samples way ahead of analysis time is not

recommended.

Please be sure the sampling procedure and

documentation are done well. Once the building is

gone, there is no way to re-sample if the AOCs are

analyzed in a later date and determined to be

overloaded with debris. I would also suggest that you

fully document the sampling process including the COC

at the time of sampling. Also, storing them in

controlled environment is recommended.

Hope this helps.

Wei

Wei Tang, Ph.D.

Lab Director

QLAB

--- Bill Gray wrote:

> Is anybody aware of any studies on holding times

> conducted on Air-O-Cell cassette samples and tape

> lift samples.

>

> We are involved in a project that involves a

> building that contains considerable water damage and

> has been found to contain high levels of numerous

> species including Stachybotrys (no surprise).

>

> The building is planned to be demolished in the near

> future. Our client feels that the building owner

> will persue litigation in the future and wants to

> again conduct sampling prior to the demo. They have

> asked if we could hold a set of samples should the

> building owner want to have them tested

> independently in the future, after the building has

> been torn down.

>

> Obviously there will be some " normal " range of

> variablity between the samples obtained, but

> depending on the length of time between analysis I

> suspect would add additional factors which would

> effect the final results.

>

> Any validity for holding a set of samples for future

> analysis and how would one interpret them?

>

>

> Sincerely,

>

>

> C. Gray

> Vice President

>

> Environmental Services

>

>

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