FAQs on mold culture test kit results:

This article series illustrates common results of mold test kits that use a culture medium, and along with several companion articles listed here, it explains the availability and usefulness of eye-level or low-power magnification photographs of mold growing on mold culture plates, settlement plates, and mold test kits to try to identify indoor mold contamination.

Mold Photos in Petri Dishes

These questions & answers about the results of culture test kits for mold contamination were posted originally at MOLD CULTURE SAMPLING METHOD - you will want to review the information given there.

On 2018-10-23 by (mod) - frustrated with mold contamination & test results

Regrettably, Linda, culture tests for mold are generally unreliable as a broad screening test for mold because only about 10% of all molds will grow in culture.

OPINION: That means that you're 90% "wrong" when you open the kit. In addition, what grows on culture is what falls onto it out of the air - which may have little to do with the presence or absence of problematic mold contamination or mold reservoirs in your home.

Luckily a larger percentage of the 200 most-common building molds will show up in culture tests, but still we have no measure that what grew accurately represents the real mold problem in the building.

Even if a mold culture or swab test suggested that there is a mold problem in the building, the test is not particularly helpful since it's not prescriptive: it doesn't tell you where to look for mold nor what to do about it.

What's needed is a careful visual inspection of the whole home for mold contamination; for hidden mold, a useful key is to look for areas that may have been subject to leaks, such as from roof or plumbing leaks; those are worth exploring further.

On 2018-10-23 by Linda McParland

Having zero funds, living off $700 a month S.S. with a mortgage until I'm 84, I cannot hire anyone to help. Being desperate after I returned home from being away 44 days this summer to my 1929 farmhouse on Long Island, NY, I smelled mustiness.

All my dresser drawers, clothes walls smelled. There was dried white stains on very old pine paneling. The white stains had to be scrubbed. I made huge batches of solution.

Pure straight undiluted white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and teatree oil.

I sprayed everything for an hour and then began wiping everything down with white lint-free rags. I am no where near done doing mold remediation and all I could barely spare was buying a mold kit for $8 in Home Depot.

I swabbed the dry white stains on a wood panel and this is the result after 9 days. I cant afford glass slides for my microscope and can't see anything in the microscope placing the petrie dish on the microscope.

So frustrated. I was diagnosed with only 1 allergy in 2015 - aspergillus. I need to know if my house has aspergillus. I've been to every specialist to test me for debilitating VERTIGO. I bet it might be from mold in the house.

Please help me. I don't know what to do with this Petrie dish that continues to grow old. thank you. Linda

On 2018-02-11 by (mod) - what are these white elongated mold spores in my culture plate?

Margaret

As there are about 1.5 million mold genera/species, many of which are or appear to be white, and many of which have elongated spores, I'm sorty to say that with just your description one cannot "name that mold spore".

At WHITE MOLD PHOTOS https://inspectapedia.com/mold/White_Mold_Pictures.php we show some common white or light colured molds.

I also note that you're asking this question on a mold culture test kit article. Have you noticed that only about 10% of all mold genera/species will grow on any culture whatsoever? What does that say about using a culture media as a general building scan for airborne mold contamination?

On 2018-02-11 by Margaret

Name of white mold with elongated spores

On 2017-08-22 by (mod) - knowing the mold name or genera/species doesn't change the cleanup procedures needed

Daniel,

Unless it's for medical reasons or for proving that a cleanup job scattered original mold contamination you don't need to know the genera/species of mold in a building. There are rare exceptions (cosmetic mold in buildings is rare) - that is to say, knowing what mold genera/species is present will not change what you need to do one iota.

You will want to take a look at MOLD CULTURE TEST ERRORS https://inspectapedia.com/mold/Mold_Culture_Test_Errors.php which explains that culture "tests" are not reliable, including that most mold species won't grow in any culture.

On 2018-05-17 by (mod) - petri dishes to see if there is mold in the air in a room?

Received by private email 2018/05/17

Question:

Does any labs have petri dishes with solutions in them that you put into a room for 24hrs. and then you send it back to the lab to inspect to see if there is mold in the air of the room? Thank you so much. I understand that after the lab gets the product back that it can take several weeks before they know the answer? - A.T.

Reply:

Yes, you can buy a "mold culture test kit" at Home Depot stores, Lowes building supply stores, online, and from many vendors.

However, since 90% of molds will not grow in any culture medium whatsoever, as a building screen for indoor mold contamination, such a test is 90% wrong or 90% inaccurate from the moment you open the cover.

Besides there is virtually always some mold in air indoors and outside. Pretty much all kinds of airborne mold are everywhere, all the time - but at significantly-varying concentrations.

On 2017-08-18 by Daniel Gascon

I detected mold, but I'm lost when it comes to identify specific mold growth
Are there pictures showing types to help is process?,. I have pics

On 2017-03-19 by Daniel

Slime mould on indoor building surfaces would be quite rare

On 2016-12-12 12:48:42.637079 by Mold spores encapsulated in hard particles

I have found what i believe is mold spores like slime mold all over my house and need more info

On 2015-10-13 21:46:23.290762 by Richard

I did a culture test I thought I mailed it out evidently it fell between the seat in my car should I do a new culture or will this one still work?

Question: interpreting mold levels when I don't see the mold indoors

(June 1, 2014) John said:

I am buying a Condo and Elevated mold levels (14000 aspergillus Pennicilum vs outdoors 600) have been detected by inspectors in two air tests. 2 Inspectors found No signs of visual mold, or any water in walls (thermal imaging), nothing under sinks, etc.

There was a leak in to the bath ceiling 5 years ago and it was "caught and repaired immediately". AC is new -- only 1 year old but has some mold growing in 3 places. Seller wants to clean the AC system and ducts, do 2 days of air scrubbing and then do an immediate air test to see if the problem is fixed.

I am having the Bath ceiling inspected by having holes drilled and scoped and if needed cutting 6"x6" area.

Question -- without major construction -- just AC and duct remediation and air scrubbing, do we need 24 hours after the air scrubbing -- or can the air test be done immediately? Will and immediate test pick up another source of mold (not AC) if it exists -- or do we need to ewait 24 hours after air scrub?

Reply:

John,

Not much of this sounds sensible to me.

If a severe mold problem was found and repaired five years ago you would not be detecting high levels of indoor Penicillium sp. spores today.

I suspect the problem was never found, OR there have been other leaks and there are other mold reservoirs that need to be found and removed. This case illustrates why mold "tests" alone, without a competent inspection are not so helpful. We just have to visit the investigation de novo, this time, finding where the problem resides.

Please see (and continue the discussion at )

inspectapedia.com/mold/Find-Hidden-Mold.php

on how to find hidden mold

or at

inspectapedia.com/mold/Hidden-Mold-in-Ceiling-Wall.php

on making test cuts for mold. Scoping may not be adequate.

...

Continue reading at MOLD CULTURE TEST ERRORS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ENVIRONMENTAL TEST ERROR TYPES
• MOLD CULTURE SAMPLING METHOD
• MOLD CULTURE PHOTOS
• MOLD CULTURE TEST ERRORS
• MOLD CULTURE TEST KIT VALIDITY

Suggested citation for this web page

MOLD CULTURE TEST FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to MOLD CONTAMINATION & REMEDIATION

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