Our simple do-it-yourself test will determine the presence of mold, pollen and dust mites in the sample submitted.
PRO-LAB® Test Kits are available to the general public at over 40,000 leading home centers, hardware stores, pharmacy chains, supermarkets, and a wide category of specialty outlets. Stores include The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, Ace Hardware, True Value, Do It Best, Kroger, Fred Meyer, Giant Eagle, and CVS.
If you cannot find the PRO-LAB® Mold Test Kit in any of the stores above, please call 954-384-4446 to purchase.
PRO-LAB’s Black Mold Test Kit utilizes patented laboratory analytical method for accuracy and reliability. To help detect the possibility of mold, do you notice any of the following?
Discoloration or black mold on baseboards, wallboards, or wallpaper. Cracks in shower tile, lack of caulking, loose toilet seal, leaks under sink. Carpet and padding in direct contact with concrete slab. Poorly maintained or dirty air conditioning/heating vents and filters. Damp basement or crawl space. Water penetration (water marks on walls, mold spots on walls) Musty/ moldy odorIf you answered YES to any of the above questions, then you could be EXPOSED TO TOXIC BLACK MOLD!
Mold are microscopic organisms that produce spores and are found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic material. Also susceptible to mold growth are cellulose materials, such as, cardboard, paper, ceiling tiles, and sheet rock. Mold spores are easily detached and made airborne by vacuuming, walking on a carpet or sitting on a couch. In indoor environments, mold can grow in air conditioning ducts, carpets, pots of houseplants, etc.
Exposure to mold is not healthy for anyone but the following individuals are at a higher risk for adverse health effects: infants, children, elderly, immune compromised patients, pregnant women, and individuals with existing respiratory conditions. When inhaled, even in small amounts, mold can cause a wide range of health problems including respiratory problems (wheezing), nasal and sinus congestion, watery and red eyes, nose and throat irritation, skin irritation, aches and pains, fevers, asthma, emphysema and in some cases even death.
When moldy materials become damaged or disturbed, spores (reproductive bodies similar to seeds) can be released into the air. The following are sources of indoor moisture that may cause mold problems in your home or office: flooding, leaky roofs, humidifiers, damp basements or crawl spaces, constant plumbing leaks, house plants, steam from cooking, shower/bath steam and leaks, wet clothes, and clothes dryers vented indoors. Protection…Testing Is Your First Line Of Defense
To find out if mold is a problem in your home or office, you must conduct a mold test!
The PRO-LAB Mold Test Kit utilizes a patented laboratory analytical method for accuracy and reliability. The easy to use do-it-yourself test allows you to determine whether toxic mold, pollen or dust mites are present in your sample.
Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra) is a greenish-black toxic mold that colonizes particularly well in high-cellulose material, such as straw, hay, wet leaves, dry wall, carpet, wall paper, fiber-board, ceiling tiles, thermal insulation, etc. Stachbotrys, before drying, is wet and slightly slimy to touch. There are about 15 species of Stachybotrys, known throughout the world. This toxic mold grows in areas where the relative humidity is above 55%. This type of mold does not grow on plastic, vinyl, concrete products, or ceramic tiles. It is not found in the green mold on bread or the black mold on the shower tiles.
Stachybotrys produces a mycotoxin that causes human mycotoxicosis.
This type of mold is thought to be a possible cause of the sick building syndrome. Children’s exposure to Stachybotrys spores are thought most likely to cause pulmonary hemosiderosis (bleeding in the lungs). The following is a list of symptoms associated with exposure to Stachybotrys mold spores:
STEP 1: PREPARING THE PETRI DISH
1. Remove the petri dish from the plastic bag and place it on a level surface.
2. Remove the top lid of the petri dish and pour the bottle of mold growth medium into the bottom of the dish.
3. Replace the lid and swirl gently until the bottom is completely covered.
4. Allow to gel for one (1) hour before removing the lid.
* NOTICE CONCERNING THE APPEARANCE OF THE PRO-LAB® PETRI DISH. The petri dish bottom contains a special pretreated layer that under certain conditions may appear cloudy. This DOES NOT indicate contamination and WILL NOT interfere with the performance or effectiveness of the Mold test kit.
STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR SAMPLING METHOD (only one testing method can be used per prepared petri dish)
METHOD 1: SETTLING AIR SAMPLING
Place the prepared petri dish on a level surface in the location you want to test. Remove the top lid of the petri dish and leave it open to the air for one (1) hour. After the one (1) hour test is complete, replace the lid and allow to incubate for 48 hours. Re-check the dish for any slow growing mold at 72 hours and 96 hours. If any mold growth is present after this incubation period, proceed to the lab results directions.
METHOD 2: HVAC AIR SAMPLING (tape is required)
Locate the air exhaust vent that is the farthest away from the main HVAC /furnace. Remove the lid of the prepared petri dish and tape the dish against the open air vent. Close all of the remaining air vents that are on the system. Turn the system fan on for ten (10) minutes to allow the forced air to impact the inside gel surface of the petri dish. After the ten (10) minute sampling time, remove the petri dish, replace the lid and allow to incubate for 48 hours. Re-check the dish at 72 hours and 96 hours to check for any slow growing mold. If any mold growth is present after the incubation period, proceed to the lab results directions.
METHOD 3: VISUAL SAMPLING
Locate the visible mold growth. Take the sterile swab and wipe the tip across the visible mold growth. Mold must adhere to the swab tip. Remove the top lid of the petri dish. Very gently wipe the swab sample across the gel surface on the petri dish, allowing the mold to adhere. Once sampling is complete, replace the top lid and proceed to the lab results directions. You must send both the swab and the petri dish to the lab for analysis.
METHOD 4: BULK SAMPLE:
Place a small piece of material to be tested inside the plastic bag. It is not necessary to use the petri dish with the bulk sample. Proceed to the lab results directions.
STEP 3: LAB RESULTS DIRECTIONS
n Standard Results within 7 days, $40 lab fee
n Express Results within 3 business days, $60 lab fee
Place the sealed petri dish, swab or bulk sample in the plastic bag and place in the enclosed postage pre-paid envelope along with the information form, and the proper payment amount, money order, credit card payment (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or AMEX only) or check (made payable to PRO-LAB®) If you opt to use Express Lab Results you must send your sample to PRO-LAB®using an overnight shipping company such as Federal Express or UPS. Send the test kit to PRO-LAB® 1675 N. Commerce Parkway, Weston, FL 33326. (Express samples can only be received Monday – Friday). Email/text notifications will let you know when your sample is received. You may print and view your results on the PROLAB Test Kits app or click here.
