Mold Test Kits Review

Toxic mold can grow on an alarming number of surfaces, including walls, ceilings, furniture, air ducts, windows and food. Mold simply needs moisture and a nutrient source, such as wood, paper, carpeting etc., to grow and reproduce. Toxic molds such as Stachybotrys chartarum (Black Mold) , Acremonium, and Memnoniella can cause not only allergic reactions such as sneezing and runny noses, but they can lead to more serious conditions such as circulatory, respiratory, mental and neurological problems. Some toxic molds like Aspergillus are even linked to cancer.

Because toxic mold poses such danger, identifying its presence is critical to protecting your family from the health-risks associated with these insidious types of mold. One way to detect mold in your home involves costly meters and scanners. While such instruments can be effective, they can also be expensive and complex to use. Simpler and more cost-effective mold identification tools come in the form of mold test kits.

Mold detection kits like the Davis All in One Mold Test, the Mold Armor FG500 and the Home Mold Laboratory Viable Mold Testing Kit not only identify the presence of mold, but can also help you discover the specific kind of mold present through lab analysis. While some mold test kits allow you to collect mold samples via an adhesive strip, others require you to swab a surface sample or collect physical samples, such as pieces of carpet or fabric. Mold test kits provide a crucial first step in protecting you and your family from the dangers of mold toxicity. You can read more articles on mold test kits in our learning center, as well.

Mold detection Kits: What to Look For

Testing Capabilities
All of the mold detection kits featured in our review allow you to easily test various surfaces in your home. Ideally, you want to purchase a kit that also allows you to test indoor air quality and your air conditioning and heating systems, as the presence of mold in these systems means they'll distribute bacteria that contaminates the air you breathe. We also recommend looking for a mold test kit that allows you to test outdoors, as mold growth can occur in playgrounds and other areas where children play, posing a risk to young lungs and immune systems.

Testing Methods
There are a variety of methods for testing for mold, and the technique you use will depend on the mold test kit you select. Some of the most popular methods involve pressing adhesive tape or film to a surface to collect a mold sample, which you can send to a laboratory for further analysis. You can also collect mold samples via swabs and air samples using settling plates. If your kit uses settling plates, plan to let the dish sit and incubate for 48 hours. Another option is bulk sampling, which involves scraping mold particles off a surface area into a small zip lock bag or cutting out a small portion of an infected home furnishing or building material.

Surface and bulk sampling are useful when you suspect mold in particular location. It's possible that discolorations or blemishes that sometimes display mold-like characteristics don't contain mold at all. These techniques can help you confirm or rule out the presence of mold. However, if you need to determine whether a mold infestation is potentially creating a hazardous living environment, air sampling is the most preferred method.

Test Supplies
Some kits come equipped with numerous testing supplies such as swabs, petri dishes, adhesive strips and bags, while others keep it simple, supplying you with nothing more than an adhesive strip and bags for bulk sampling. Choose a kit that offers the testing supplies and options that best meet your individual situation.

Analysis
The test kits will determine the presence of mold in your living environment, but they can't tell you whether the mold you have is toxic or harmful. Therefore, we recommend you send the test to the manufacturer's lab for analysis. You'll find directions for sending your sample to the lab included in the test kit instructions. The laboratory will test for all common molds, including the notoriously toxic black mold. Results take anywhere from 24 hours to three weeks and are sent to you via email or snail mail. Be advised that in most cases you will be charged an additional lab analysis fee.

Help & Support
The majority of mold test kit manufacturers offer very elementary help and support. All of the manufacturers featured in our review include email and telephone support, while a few provide helpful FAQs. A few manufacturers provide video demonstrations of their kits on their websites, which gives you a better understanding of how these kits operate.

With the array of dangers that toxic molds pose, including respiratory and autoimmune problems, it is imperative to address the presence of mold in your living environment as soon as possible, before the mold spores have a chance to grow and reproduce out of control. Mold detection kits provide an affordable and simple solution, allowing you to identify molds that can be harmful to you and your loved one's health.

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