LCS Laboratory offers a fast and reliable test for mould identification on surfaces. Dirt deposits and active mould growth are “look-alike” stains that cannot be distinguished without microscopic examination. The image above is a fragment of a painted wall damaged by the flood. Mold strives on any organic material leaving stains and producing billions of spores, which cause allergic reactions.
LCS Laboratory offers an analysis of surfaces for mould growth. This test is a standard tool in mould investigation performed by home inspectors, insurance investigators, and health and safety consultants. The sample can be submitted as a piece of wood or paint shipped to us in a Ziploc bag or as a Tape-Lift sample. Once we receive the sample, we extract dust from the surface and analyze it using Phase Contrast and Staining Light Microscopy. The tape-lift procedure is very simple and does not require previous experience. Please visit the tape-lift instruction webpage for more information.
The most common types of mould are identified and their concentration is measured. We report the following spores:
- Alternaria
- Ascospores
- Aspergillus/Penicillium-like
- Basidiospores
- Chaetomium
- Cladosporium
- Curvularia
- Drechslera/Bipolaris-like
- Smuts/Myxomycetes/Periconia
- Stachybotrys/Memnoniella
- Ulocladium
- Hyphal fragments
- Miscellaneous/Unidentifiable
Your report will show the spore count for each type of mould in units of spores/mm2.
There are no governmentally approved standards for mould contamination of the surfaces. Based on our own statistical analysis of the client’s data, we came up with the following interpretation of the results obtained from water-damaged buildings:
Negligible growth that is found in 10% of the cleanest construction materials: <10 spores/mm2
Moderate growth is common for normal environmental humidity: 10-100 spores/mm2
Active growth of mold: 100-1000 spores/mm2
Very strong growth is found in the top 25% of most contaminated materials: >1000 spores/mm2
If you need help with the sampling, please check our video instruction manual:
Please use our request for analysis form to place your order. Download and complete the form and ship it together with your samples. To prepay the test online, please visit our online store via the link below. 
Please check our price list for current prices or contact us to discuss the details of your project.
