Mold is everywhere, but some molds in
your home or office may be toxic.

The PIONAIR™ mold test kit identifies dangerous molds in your environment
and in the air you breathe.

PRICE LIST

  Professional Mold Testing Kit

It's easy. It's safe. It's peace of mind.
And you can do it yourself!

This easy do-it-yourself kit allows you to test for the presence of mold in your breathing space. The test returns results in only three days.

1. Use the kit to first collect air samples outside your home, to check the ambient level of mold and establish baseline values.

 
2. Then collect air samples inside your home where you suspect you may have mold - especially in areas where you and your family spend the most time, like bedrooms, kitchens, or family rooms, as well as basements and areas that have been exposed to water or flooding.

The kit contains components to perform one baseline (outdoor) test, and one indoor test. If you want to test multiple areas in your home, you can purchase additional petri dishes. The included instructional video provides valuable suggestions on where and how to set up your test and what to look for after the test is complete.

If you are suspicious that the results indicate the presence of toxic mold, a certified lab analysis is available through HealthQuest Technologies at additional cost (to cover lab fees).

When and Where Should You Use the Kit?

You can test almost any time, but you should test outside to see what the ambient level of mold is, and then inside your home where you suspect you may have mold. This could include basements and areas that have been exposed to water or flooding. Especially in areas where you and your family spend the most time, like bedrooms, kitchens, or family rooms.

You should re-test at least annually. If your test shows a greenish-black mold that may be toxic, you should send the test in for a certified lab analysis, or get advice from a local expert. If you find that there is toxic mold in your breathing space, you need to decide what you are going to do about it.

For serious visible mold, you must correct the source of the problem and may want to seek local professional assistance.

What Is Mold?

Molds are microscopic organisms found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors.

Mold spores are very tiny, light-weight, and easily-detached by airflow, vacuuming, walking on carpet, or sitting on a couch. In indoor environments they grow in air conditioning ducts, carpets, pots of house plants, etc. They produce and release millions of spores, which are small enough to stay airborne, threatening to invade the human respiratory system.

In large quantities, molds can cause allergic symptoms similar to those caused by plant pollen. Mold growths can often be seen in the form of discoloration, ranging from white to orange and from green to brown or black.

In order for mold to grow, it needs food sources (such as leaves, wood, paper, or dirt), a source of moisture, and a place to grow.

What Is Toxic Mold?

While mold exists everywhere, it sometimes takes on a dangerous form.

The scientific name for the greenish-black mold that turns up on carpet, wallpaper, ceiling tiles - even wet leaves - is Stachybotrys Chartarum
(see inset). It produces a mycotoxin that causes mycotoxicosis, and is thought to be the cause of "sick building syndrome."

You won't find toxic mold on plastic, vinyl, concrete, or ceramic tiles - it grows where the relative humidity averages more than 55% and there is a food source such as cellulose.

Why Should You Test for Mold in Your Living or Working Environment?

You may not know if you have been exposed to mold spores or the mycotoxins they release into the air you breathe. You won't know if you have a toxic mold unless you test for it. Exposure to even small amounts of mold can be dangerous and cause health problems for you and your family or employees.

Where Can Mold Turn Up?

Just about anywhere. In addition to areas indicated around your home, it may also grow in or on your boat, RV, hotel room, or second home, especially if it is closed up for extended periods of time.

Mold spores or seeds and the mycotoxins from mold become airborne with almost any activity. Vacuuming, walking, sitting on your couch, or just having the heating unit or air conditioner on can cause the airborne mold or mycotoxins to spread throughout your breathing space.