Should I Rely On a Mold Professional For Testing?

Sampling for fungus is a pretty straight forward process and actually requires minimal training. However, a mold professional or environmentalist needs an understanding of building science to perform comprehensive mold investigations. It is important to understand why certain types of construction are prone to support mold growth. A thorough mold investigation requires scanning the air to locate areas where elevated levels of fungi are most likely to exist and moisture readings to help identify red flag areas. This greatly enhances the ability of an environmentalist to properly perform a mold. Specialized equipment is required for particle scanning and moisture measurements.

Accuracy of fungal testing varies greatly from laboratory to laboratory. Attention to detail is very important by laboratory technicians. A mold professional or environmentalist should occasionally check their laboratory's accuracy by taking two identical samples in exactly the same location/spot and sending them to different laboratories to be tested. If the laboratory knows the environmentalist (their customer) occasionally cross-checks their work, the lab is more likely to take the required time to properly analyze the samples.