Guest guest Posted December 27, 2006 Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 Hello all!! My name is Jayden. I have kids at home with terrible allergies. One of my neighbors told me that it might be mold. I have no animals and my house is VERY clean. I did some internet surfing and came accross this website. It advertises this home test kit. I was thinking about purchasing it. However, I would like to get some professional advice first. Do you think I will get an accurate answer or will I just be wasting my money? Any and all comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you all very much!! http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx? storyid=11401 & ret=Default.aspx Jayden Riverview, FL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 27, 2006 Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 Jayden: Tis just my opinion....but the home test kits are only effective given the obvious presence of mold. If you cannot see or smell mold, then the home test kits are not all that valuable, and a possible waste of your money. Moreover, you need to know what is going on outdoors as well as indoors; you live in a very biologically active state. There is a guy in Florida that seems pretty sharp, and he may be able to help you. His name is Valin, he is often on this post and hopefully he hears your call for assistance. His email address is: Gval102@... Florida is a big state. If is not local to you, he may know someone in your local area. Given what you state, i.e., kids with allergies, no animals, and a clean house, I believe you need someone to come by and assess all possible issues. can do that. I know I have helped several symptomatic families with allergies improve their living situation. First thing I do is take away their vacuum cleaner. If you have carpets and don’t have a central vac, stop vacuuming! Also, consider removing all carpeting. can help you modify your HVAC system to improve air filtration and efficiency. Combining better air filtration and HVAC system efficiency along with smarter floor cleaning, will often lead to reduced allergies and improved living. For what it is worth.... -- Geyer, PE, CIH, CSP President KERNTEC Industries, Inc. Bakersfield, California www.kerntecindustries.com Hello all!! My name is Jayden. I have kids at home with terrible allergies. One of my neighbors told me that it might be mold. I have no animals and my house is VERY clean. I did some internet surfing and came accross this website. It advertises this home test kit. I was thinking about purchasing it. However, I would like to get some professional advice first. Do you think I will get an accurate answer or will I just be wasting my money? Any and all comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you all very much!! http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx? storyid=11401 & ret=Default.aspx Jayden Riverview, FL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 > > Hello all!! My name is Jayden. I have kids at home with terrible > allergies. One of my neighbors told me that it might be mold. I have no > animals and my house is VERY clean. I did some internet surfing and > came accross this website. It advertises this home test kit. I was > thinking about purchasing it. However, I would like to get some > professional advice first. Do you think I will get an accurate answer > or will I just be wasting my money? Any and all comments are greatly > appreciated. Thank you all very much!! > > > > http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx? > storyid=11401 & ret=Default.aspx > > Jayden > Riverview, FL Hello from just to your south in Manatee County! I am a mycologist (arcane subset of the microbiology field) and I have never really understood the mentality of environmental science when it comes to analysing human health conditions. It is my belief that the proper order of diagnosis is first with the physician to assess the health of the patient. Then once the cause of a problem has been ascertained, then go and check the surroundings of the petient to see if the local environment is pertinent to the observed symptoms. I am not sure how the home test kit is supposed to work. Since there are no exposure standards for airborne fungal spores, and all structures other than clean rooms will have airborne fungal spores as well as the exterior air. I am not really sure what the home test kit will provide. Quantification of fungal spores usually involves sampling a specific volume of air accurately, then sending the sample to a lab for counting under a microscope. This involves pumps, collection cassettes, and microscopes at the lab as well as trained lab techs who can accurately read the spores in the cassettes. I really do not know how this would work in a home kit. Do not allow your self to be intimidated by these things. If an allergist suggest allergies to fungal spores, you might replace carpeting and other absorptive surfaces with tile or other hard surfaces. These will keep the interior as free from fungal spores as possible. However, natural spores levels in the exterior can be extraordinarily high in the summer months in SW Florida and there is really no avoiding that condition. Also, a single portabella mushroom contains about 4 million spores, which is much more than you are likely to contact in airborne contact. Allergic responses are due to sensitivity to specific antigens which may be related to specific groups of common molds. An SPT (skin prick test) from an allergist my be very helpful is assessing your condition which may have more to d0 with egg whites than mold. This would be a good place to start. Jeff Deuitch Microbiologist Administrator, the IAQ Forum. Come an visit us at www.iaqforum.net > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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