PART
TWO
Understanding the Mold Remediation Process: MOLD TESTING
The analogy of a medical examination, diagnosis and treatment
is helpful in understanding the various parts of the mold remediation
process. The first part of the process is the examination for
mold, or mold inspection. Extreme care should be taken during
this process not to disturb or remove any building materials in
areas affected by mold (carpet, padding, drywall, wallpaper, wood,
etc.)
Laboratory mold testing is often necessary to enable a physician
to diagnose and treat a patient most effectively. Similarly, environmental
testing and sampling of a mold-contaminated structure is often
necessary to determine proper remediation procedures. An environmental
professional who is specifically trained for this task should
perform mold testing and sampling.
Once
samples are collected, they are sent to an environmental laboratory
where further mold testing is conducted to determine the type
and severity of contamination. Although some media coverage would
suggest otherwise, there is no piece of equipment or device that
can determine on-site the number or type of mold colonies or spores
present in a contaminated area. This analysis must be done in
a laboratory and takes a minimum of several days to complete.
For
mold testing, much like a physician uses the results of physical
examination and laboratory analysis to make a diagnosis and prescribe
an appropriate course of treatment, a qualified environmental
professional uses visual inspection, photographs and laboratory
analysis to quantify the extent of mold contamination and determine
an appropriate remediation plan or protocol. This protocol will
specify what personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used,
what level of containment should be erected, if any, and what
procedures should be followed to clean and/or remove
mold contaminated building materials.
Like
a pharmacist fills a prescription written by a physician, a restoration
company trained in mold testing and remediation follows the written
remediation plan or protocol written by an environmental professional.
Mold testing and remediation training is the equivalent of pharmacy
school - it equips the restoration company to understand and implement
the specifications contained in the remediation plan.
Finally,
clearance mold testing is often performed after the mold
remediation is complete, to ensure that microbial contamination
has been eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level. The same
environmental professional who did the initial mold testing and
sampling generally performs clearance mold testing.
