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Mold Detection Kits
Molds are common in our world, but certain
types, quantities, and individual sensitivities
can lead to allergic reactions, sickness,
and (as the name suggests) death. Mold thrives
in warm, humid conditions, such as that frequently
found in bathrooms (around showers, in particular),
vent ducts, or places where there has been
water damage from ground water flooding,
broken plumbing, or a leaking roof. Often
mold can be seen as stains, spots, or a fuzzy
growth on a surface, but mold can also be
hidden behind walls and within the ducts.
To detect mold, you can buy home
detection
kits. When shopping for a mold
detection
kit, here are some tips to consider:
- collection method - mold samples can be collected
by scraping a portion of the visible mold
into a sample container or by using "lift"
tape. Samples of invisible airborne mold
can be collected using collection plates.
Most people will want to test for mold in
each room and in the basement and attic,
so choose a kit with the type and quantity
of collection devices you need.
- analysis method - some kits allow for self-analysis;
that is, if you do not find
any mold growing
in the collection device within
a week, then
there is no mold. Other kits
provide only
laboratory analysis, which
is necessary to
determine the type of mold.
- if you are going to use laboratory analysis,
compare the contents of the report. In particular,
you will want to know the mold type; whether
it can cause sickness, allergies, or death;
and the concentration level.
- make sure the kit includes a sample device
for collecting the "normal"
mold
levels outside your home.
For an accurate test, be sure to follow the
directions closely. Exposing the collection
devices too long will give an abnormally
high mold reading. Similarly, hand the devices
carefully so as not to touch the collection
areas and thus transfer dirt from your hands. |
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