Clear Air Solutions
provides mould testing and identification services utilizing and
independent lab. We also provide testing for environmental bacteria.
Mould testing services include analysis of non-viable air samples,
viable air samples, direct microscopic and culture analyses of
bulk samples (drywall, wallpaper, pieces of carpets, insulation
material, dust, wood and other matrices), lift tape and swab or
wipe samples. We help troubleshoot mould and bacteria problems
in industrial / commercial buildings, hospitals, offices as well
as residential homes and buildings.
Mould Testing:
•Culture (viable)
analysis. This includes enumeration of the colony forming units
(CFU) and identification of moulds to genus or species. Samples
may include RCS, Andersen, LARO-100, or any other media suitable
for culture analysis. The report includes a list of recovered moulds
and their concentration as colony forming units (CFU), a statistical
comparisons of samples where possible and information on the recovered
moulds where available.
•Non-viable (total spore count) Analysis. This analysis involves
spore counting and identification of different categories of mould
spores. The report includes spore counts for each category of spores
and the grand total spore count for all spores per cubic meter
of air. Wherever possible spore counts and categories of spores for
all the samples are compared.
•Bulk samples (e.g., drywall material, wallpaper, pieces
of carpet, etc). Bulk samples could be analyzed by either DME or
culturing. A report for DME analysis gives a listing of the observed
moulds in rank order. Information of the recovered moulds is also
given. Culturing involve identification of recovered moulds to
species and listing them in rank order.
•Surface swabs. Swabs could be analyzed by
direct microscopic examination (DME) or culturing. A DME report
for these samples is similar to that of bulk samples. A culture
report includes a list of the recovered moulds identified to species
level and concentration of these moulds if the analysis involved
quantification.
•Lift Tape samples. Tape samples are usually
analyzed by DME but could also be analyzed by culturing. The report
produced here is similar to that of DME for bulk samples.
•Dusts (from carpet, upholstery, mattress
etc.), Soils and other sediments. These samples are suitable for
either culturing without quantification (Direct Plating) or with
quantification. They may also be analyzed by DME. A report for
culturing for quantification lists the recovered moulds and their
concentration as CFU per gram of dust or per unit area.
•Sewage and sludge. Suitable for analyses
by culturing. Could also be analyzed by DME. Reports produced for
these samples are similar to those of other samples
Bacteria Analyses:
The samples discussed above except for lift tape and non-viable
air samples could all be analyzed for bacteria. Since virtually
every sample has some form of bacteria, it is important to have
a clear objective for bacteria analysis. Also, some samples are
not suitable for bacteria analysis or for some categories of bacteria.
Clear Air Solution’s independent lab analyses samples for
the following bacteria:
· Gram Staining and Enumeration of Culturable Bacteria
· Total Coliform / E. coli (Presence/Absence)
· Total Coliform / E. coli (MPN)
· Total Coliform (membrane filter)
· Fecal Coliform (membrane filter)
· Standard Heterotrophic Plate Count
· Legionella Detection
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