Detecting mold can be accomplished through a visual inspection and testing. During a visual inspection, you want to visually check for mold growth in any areas of the home that have suffered from flood damage, water damage, or a plumbing leak. It only takes 24 - 48 hours for mold to grow after a water intrusion.

Other areas of concern are inside cabinets, behind drywall, behind baseboards, around plumbing fixtures, behind wallpaper, peeling or bubbling paint, window sills, basements, crawl spaces and attics. If you find a suspicious substance which may be mold growing in any of these areas, you will want to test the area.
 

IMS Laboratory offers two distinct methods of testing for surface mold depending on your specific needs:

THE VIABLE MOLD TEST KIT - If you suspect that a substance is mold but do not know for certain, IMS Laboratory recommends the Viable Mold Test Kit. This kit will tell you whether the substance in question is mold without the need for laboratory testing and costs as little as $7.95/kit.

To perform this test, swab the mold, then swab the test kit. If nothing grows in the test kit in three to seven days, the substance in question is not living, growing mold. If the substance is living, growing mold, in approximately three to seven days, you will see mold growing in the kit.

At that time, you have the option of sending the kit back to IMS Laboratory for analysis. Using our state-of-the-art laboratory, we can analyze your sample to identify the types of mold present and tell you whether the mold is allergenic, pathogenic or toxigenic. This cost-effective option provides an accurate and reliable laboratory analysis, and is available for only $30.00 (per viable test kit submitted). Complete details on how to order a laboratory analysis will be included with your Viable Mold Test Kit. We will then identify what type and how much mold is prevalent on the surface that was tested. When you receive your results call us for a phone consultation to determine a course of action.

LIFT TAPE MOLD TEST KIT - If you already know that the substance is mold and want to find out what type(s) of mold are present, IMS Laboratory recommends the Lift Tape Mold Test Kit. IMS Laboratory offers this kit for free (we do charge $4.95 for shipping and handeling). To perform this test, peel back the tape and press lightly on the mold. Replace the tape and send it to IMS Laboratory for analysis. Using our state-of-the-art laboratory, we can analyze your sample to identify the types of mold present and tell you whether the mold is allergenic, pathogenic or toxigenic. This cost-effective option provides an accurate and reliable laboratory analysis, and is available for only $25.00. Complete details on how to order a laboratory analysis will be included with your Lift Tape Mold Test Kit. We will then identify what type and how much mold is prevalent on the surface that was tested. When you receive your results call us for a phone consultation to determine a course of action.

-Remember: To test for surface mold, you must use one kit per affected area.

No matter what you call it: mold, mildew, household mold, or home mold, there are always mold spores, invisible to the naked eye, but present in the air. There's nothing you can do about that. But you CAN determine if you have "normal levels" of molds in your home by performing air quality tests. Air quality testing is crucial in determining "the health of your home." This testing method is important if you have a mold allergy, mold exposure or symptoms of mold allergies.

AIR QUALITY TEST KIT. To perform air quality tests, place one Viable Mold Test Kit outside and one Viable Mold Test Kit in each room of your home you wish to test with the lids open; after one hour, close the lids on the kits. In about three to seven days, you will probably see mold growing in the kits. Compare the indoor kits with the outdoor kit looking for differences in types of mold or quantity of mold. If you have different types of mold growing in the indoor kits than in the outdoor kit or if you have more mold growing in the indoor kits than in the outdoor kit, IMS Laboratory recommends that you send the kits back to our laboratory for analysis. Using our state-of-the-art laboratory, we can analyze your sample to identify the types of mold present. This cost-effective option provides an accurate and reliable laboratory analysis, and is available for only $30.00 (per kit submitted). Complete details on how to order a laboratory analysis will be included with your Test Kit order. We will identify what type and how much mold is prevalent in the circulating air of your home. When you receive your results, call us for a phone consultation to determine a course of action.

“Earth Safe Labs sends samples to IMS Laboratory.”