Mold surface sampling

When surface sampling helps

If you can see a stain, spotting or growth, a surface sample tells you what it is. It's also useful for checking furniture, boxes or other belongings after water damage, and for documenting a problem for a landlord, seller or insurer.

Surface samples show what's on one spot. They don't show how much is in the air you breathe, so we often pair a surface sample with air samples from the same room.

How it works

• We take a sterile swab or a clear tape lift from the suspect surface. It doesn't damage the material.
• We check the area with a moisture meter to see whether it's still wet, since active moisture means growth can continue.
• The sample is logged on a chain-of-custody form and sent to an independent lab for identification.

Is it mold or just dirt?

Plenty of dark spots turn out to be dust, soot or staining. A surface sample settles it, so you don't pay for removal you don't need.