Effective Mould Air Testing

Mould air testing will let you know if there are elevated levels of mould spores and hyphal fragments in your home or workplace.

What Is Mould Air Sampling and Testing?

Mycometer® air Fungi is the state-of-the-art test method for onsite quantification of fungal particles in the air in less than an hour.

The methodology measures the level of fungal particles in terms of viable and most nonviable spores and hyphal fragments. Two independent peer-reviewed publications have shown that it also measures microparticles from the fungi. The Mycometer® air Fungi methodology quantifies fungal particles in the air by measuring the level of the enzyme, β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA), from airborne fungal particles captured on a 0,8 µm pore size filter.

The Mycometer protocol is unique in that it employs ACTIVATED AIR SAMPLING this is a process where the air in the area to be tested is agitated/disturbed in a controlled manner. This allows testing for those particulates that due to their weight are not suspended in the air for long periods but can become airborne through disturbances in the air patterns, such as when a door is opened or closed or when a person moves through a room.

The passive air sampling that other testing systems employ does not account for the contaminants mentioned above and will therefore give inaccurate data on the contaminants that are affecting the indoor air quality.

Air Mould Testing

mould air testing

Mould Air Testing

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Superior Technology

The technology has been verified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through the ETV programme. Linearity between enzyme activity measured as fluorescence and the number of spores was well documented(R2 = 0,997). An RPD of 5.3% was found. This is an exceptionally low variability, unprecedented in any other method available for measuring mould in air.

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Activated Sampling

Activated sampling provides a more realistic sampling of the airborne contaminants suspended due to disruption in the airflow of the test area. This provides greater accuracy regarding indoor air quality when the property is occupied as it replicates the air movement with occupants. The team at Mycometer have been the leader in activated sampling technology.

The benefits of Activated Mould Air Testing

Activated mould air testing offers a more accurate and representative assessment of mould presence. It is better compared to passive air testing. This is because it actively draws a measured volume of air through a collection device. This process captures airborne mould spores and fragments efficiently over a specific time frame. It provides quantitative data that reflects the current indoor air quality.

Since mould spores are often unevenly distributed and may settle on surfaces, passive testing, which relies on spores naturally settling onto collection plates, can miss transient or low concentrations of spores in the air. Activated testing overcomes this limitation by sampling a larger air volume, thus increasing the likelihood of detecting mould spores even at low levels.

Additionally, air mould testing can help find hidden mould that is not visible to the naked eye. Mould often grows inside walls, under floors, or in ventilation systems, releasing spores into the air. By analysing the air quality, activated mould testing can identify these hidden sources, enabling timely remediation before structural damage or health issues arise.

Moreover, activated air testing allows for controlled and repeatable sampling conditions, which enhances the reliability and comparability of results. It can be conducted during various activities or times of day to capture fluctuations in mould spore concentrations caused by environmental changes or human activity. In contrast, passive testing is subject to environmental variables like air flow and settling rates, which can lead to inconsistent and less representative results.

Consequently, activated air testing is preferred in mould investigations as it provides a more comprehensive understanding of mould contamination and helps guide more effective remediation strategies.

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