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Abstract:

The Mold Test Kits has been validated as a reliable mold spore detection, screening device and investigative system. This validation study compared the sampling results of three standard, viable mold spore sampling methods. All three methods were used to simultaneously collect environmental mold spores indoors and outdoors on two separate dates. A total of five (5) samples of each sampling method were taken simultaneously at seven (7) sampling stations. The collected samples were incubated at room temperature and enumerated according to standard methods.

Graph 1:

The enumerated data for each method were averaged, graphed and compared. All three methods produced the exact same rank order trend, identifying the lowest intermediate and highest sampling stations (see Graph 1).

GRAPH 1: CFU/FILM/HOUR OR CFU/80 L (2 MINUTES) ©2001 Home Health Science, Inc.

Graph 1

= Mold Test Kits – 1 hour gravity = Petri Dish – 1 hour gravity = Biotest RCS (centrifugal impact sampler) 2 minute sample = 80 Liters Conclusion: 1. All three microbiological screening devices, although using differing methodologies and sampling durations, identified the stations in the same rank order from lowest to highest (except for the T-1-5 anomaly due to excessive wind). 2. The Mold Test Kits is the least costly system and the RCS (or any other active pump sampling system) is the most expensive. 3. Note: The Biotest impact sampler captured significantly greater spores at the two outdoor, excessively windy sites, (T-1-4 and T-1-5) on 8/10/02.

Screening Investigations:

The Mold Test Kits has been validated by Home Health Science, Inc. as an environmental mold spore screening device suitable for initial airborne mold spore contamination investigations. The kit will enable investigators to quickly screen and economically prioritize areas which need a detailed hands-on, physical inspection (see Graph 2). The Mold Test Kits is, without question, the most cost-effective microbiological screening method for environmental air.

Graph 2:

The Mold Test Kits, as demonstrated in this manufacturing facility (below), has a wide range of capabilities to detect very clean or contaminated environments. The Mold Test Kits can be used to create a building baseline “resident spore load” or as an investigative device to conduct spot checks and pinpoint the need for detailed investigations. Example - the outdoor control graph spore levels shown below are between 10 and 30 CFU per film per hour. The air conditioned administrative offices shown, are 10 CFU per film per hour or less and the major production room ranges from 30 to 400 CFU per film per hour. The major production room was found to have a wood palette contamination problem.

GRAPH 2: Mold Test Kits MANUFACTURING FACILITY 8/10/00 CFU/FILM/HOUR © 2001 Home Health Science, Inc.

Graph 2

When used in conjunction with the kit’s Building Detective Guide^TM, the Mold Test Kits provides a quick, consistent and economical method for field personnel to conduct investigations and screening reports when the objective is to primarily locate the source of mold contamination and pinpoint the attendant water leak inside a building.

Kit Specifications For The Standard Kit

The Mold Test Kits is a self-test kit used to conduct mold spore screening investigations.

• The Kit identifies rooms with the highest mold spore concentrations (the test films).
• The Kit guides the user through an investigation of the highest spore count rooms, to find the mold growth source (The Building Detective Guide^TM).
• The Kit provides the Clean Up Guide^TM.