Mold Challange 4

[Guest guest]

I now have the final mold results from the samples that were

cultured.

The total upstairs was 83 colony forming units per cubic meter of air

(CFU/M3) . Cladosporium was 57% of the total, followed by Alternaria

at 30%, then Penicillium.

The basement total was 380 CFU/M3. Cladosporium and Alternaria was

90% of the total.

Outside was 966 CFU/M3. Cladosporium and Alternaria were 77% of

total, followed by a wide range of others.

These are lower than and more " common " with data from clean, dry,

well maintained structures.

None of these new samples had any Stachybotrys or Memnoniella like

the origianl ones. All my culture data are relatively consistent with

my microscopy. Both the microscopy and the culture samples were

consistent with the inspection and the experience of my sensitized

client.

The original samples that had the Stachybotrys were significantly

different from all other data and information.

Which would you rely on?

Another interesting tidbit is that I used two different culture

plates. One (MEA) is preferred by Penicillium and Aspergillus and the

other (CEL) is preferred by Stachybotrys. MEA is the typical media

used in plates, including home test kits.

Yet, the CEL for the inside samples grew more 2-4 times more colonies

of Alternaria and Penicillium than the MEA. And the Cladosporium was

16 times higher.

However, the outside sample for Cladosporium was reversed at 12 times

more colonies on the MEA than on the CEL.

What does it all mean? There is no single, definitive method for

testing for mold. Each method of sampling with each type of culture

plate and each type of analysis will give you different results.

However, confidence in the results will increase if several different

types of testing and analysis are in general agreement. Confidence

will further incease if the lab results are consistent with other

types of information such as a comprehensive inspection and,

especially, occupant experience.

" Low " mold results mean little if the occupant is reactive. Likewise,

" high " results mean little if the occupant is not reactive. And

neither definitively identifies mold as the cause rather than

something else. That's why a comprehensive inspection is so

important.

I hope this real life example helps to further illuminate the

intricacies of mold sampling. It's not all bad but it isn't simple.

It's more than just numbers and it can't be appropropriately

interpreted without context.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC