|
First, you should know that we follow the recommendations of all the major non-profit & government organizations with expertise in mold. Which means that we typically do not recommend air sampling to determine if you have a “mold problem.” Click here for the latest guidance on sampling. What most people who have to make a living selling you their mold-testing services won’t tell you is this — that air samples are usually a waste of your money. This is particularly true in our region of the country, where mold is in the air all the time. Furthermore, there are no “acceptable” or “typical” levels to compare your samples to. Interpreting mold samples is far more complex than simply saying “the indoor sample is higher than the outdoor sample so you must have a mold problem.” Think about it — if you can see the mold, why waste your money doing sampling? Better to spend your hard-earned money fixing the water problem that caused the mold to grow! Click here for our simple 3-step process to follow if you find mold. Air sampling is truly only appropriate in a very limited number of circumstances. For example, when moldy odors or allergic reactions exist even when there is no obvious source of mold or water damage, or when an immunocompromised person needs assurance that indoor air mold is below a certain level recommended by their physician. Unless otherwise specified, fees given below are all-inclusive — that is, they include labor, travel (within 15 minutes of downtown Boone), laboratory analysis, shipping, and an informal summary report with interpretation of the results. You won’t be hit with any “surprises.” All sample results are available with a detailed, written, certified report for an additional fee. The amount of the fee depends on the type and quantity of sampling. This kind of report is highly recommended, and will almost always be required by any kind of insurance provider. As a service to our many clients who have limited incomes, however, BRIH does not require clients to obtain such a report except in special circumstances. For mold sampling, the skill of the microbiologist who analyzes the sample in the lab is extremely important. That’s why BRIH has selected P&K Microbiology Services, led by world-renowned mycologist Dr. Chin S. Yang, Ph.D., and for most of its mold analyses. Air samples are usually sent to Galson Laboratories, another highly qualified, fully AIHA accredited lab that also participates in additional voluntary quality control programs. Air Samples — BRIH offers both standard “Spore Trap” type air samples or the newer-technology “Quantitative PCR” samples. A decision on what is right for you will be made after consulting with you. Unlike the “cookbook” results given by the cheap labs most building & “mold inspectors” use, spore trap samples from BRIH come with interpretation of the results. This offers insight into where hidden mold may be growing, whether it is actively growing or dead, and other valuable information that may assist you in deciding what to do next. Another difference is that only fully AIHA-Accredited labs are used (not simply labs that participate in a minimal testing program). In addition, BRIH will go over the results in detail with you to ensure you understand what they mean and to help you come up with a plan of action. A package of 3 Spore Trap air samples is $422. (Note: 3 spore trap samples will rarely be enough to provide any reliable information). A package of 7 Spore Trap air samples is $554. A package of 8 Spore Trap air samples $632. From this point on, any additional Spore Trap samples are $79 A package of 2 PCR samples that will identify 14 key species of mold is $732. Additional samples are $250 each. Since PCR samples can be collected over the course of many hours (unlike spore traps, which are taken for only a few minutes each), taking only a few is usually sufficient. For an additional lab fee of $25 per sample, spore trap samples can also be examined for skin cells and pollen. This can be useful to estimate the allergic load (amount of allergens) in the building when allergic symptoms are a problem but a source is not obvious. “Culturable” air sampling to grow and identify the specific species of mold present is available. However, newer technologies have made culturable air sampling for mold virtually obsolete. This kind of sampling is quite costly and is almost never necessary. Contact us for details if you want pricing for this kind of sampling. Tape-Lift Samples — Tape-lift samples are $67 when done along with any other service (an inspection, other testing, etc), $79 when done alone. These are useful to prove whether stains or growths on a material are mold or not, or to determine if the mold is actively growing. Tape-lifts identify mold only to the genus level, not to the species level, although they can usually identify a few unique-looking species such as Stachybotrys chartarum (the mold often hyped as “toxic black mold.”) Viable Swab Samples — Swab samples are $135 when done along with any other service (an inspection, other testing, etc), $115 when done alone. These are useful to find the specific species of molds present, but they cannot identify if the mold is actively growing or not. Swab sampling that identifies all species except those of the Cladosporium or Penicillium families of molds is available for $30 less. Dust Samples — Dust samples involve collecting dust into an aseptic container. It does not damage material, so is useful for carpet, bedding, insulation, and other soft surfaces. Dust samples are useful to find the level of mold or other potential allergens in the building. Dust samples for Dust mite (Der p 1, Der f 1, Group 2), Cat (Fel d 1), Cockroach (Bla g 2) are $205 each with an inspection, or $235 without an inspection. Bulk & Wipe Samples — Bulk samples (a 2” x 2” piece of the suspect material is cut out and sent to the lab) and wipe samples (a specific area is sampled using a sterile swab) are the same price as tape-lift samples. These have the same pros and cons as tape-lift samples. |
Mold Testing |
|
The High Country’s Solution to Environmental Health & Safety |
|
Blue Ridge Industrial Hygiene, Inc. |
General |
|
Mold Investigations |
More InformationSee these helpful informational webpages that we have written especially for our clients: |
|
The High Country’s Solution to Environmental Health & Safety |
|
Our labor rate is $60 per hour for on-site work, and $45 per hour for report writing. We do not charge for travel time or mileage when the location is within a 15-minute drive of downtown Boone. For details on what to expect during a full mold investigation, please click here. In many cases, we are willing to do work on a “fixed-price” basis. That is, we will give you an estimate up front for the work and if it takes longer than we had anticipated, you still pay the same amount. Many times all you need is a simple consultation. Our clients are often surprised to find us talking them OUT of having expensive, unnecessary sampling done! |
