Do It Yourself Mold Test Kits Earn a Not Recommended Rating from Consumer Reports.

Do It Yourself Mold Test Kits "Not Recommended"

If you see or smell mold, you don't need a test kit to tell you it's there. Generally, it's not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in your home, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If mold covers an area less than 10 square feet, you may be able to eliminate the problem yourself. Larger areas require a pro. When we tested the kits below for our report, we found significant shortcomings in all of them, flaws that were serious enough to earn each a "Not Recommended" rating

Home Diagnostics Malt Extract Culture Plates and Air Sampler $74 or $203 (w/ air sampler) Expensive, and took a long time, an average of 23 days, for results to be returned from lab. No expiration dates on the kit; old media could affect the accuracy and reliability of the results. One unused plate came back positive for mold growth, indicating contamination at some point;Not very reassuring for post-remediation use. Mold Chek Mold Test Kit $39 (4 petri dishes) Using unsterilized utensils or swabs increases the likelihood of contamination. Very difficult to open; kits could spill on the floor while opening package and become contaminated and useless. No expiration dates on the kit; old media could affect the accuracy and reliability of the results. Label claimed kit can identify toxic mold, but the report that the lab sends can't tell you this. One unused plate came back positive for mold growth, indicating contamination at some point; Not very reassuring for post-remediation use. Mold Chek Sampling Kit $39 to $49 Kit fits on most but not all vacuums. If you vacuum more than one area or room per sample kit, then you won't know which area has a mold problem. Label claimed that kit can tell you whether toxic mold is "hiding in your house." But brochure inside the kit has a disclaimer saying the lab report can't tell you this. Pro-Lab MO109 $40 to $55 In some samples, the vials with media leaked over entire kit. In one, an unopened kit was moldy. No expiration dates on the kit; old media could affect the accuracy and reliability of the results. Label claims that kit can identify toxic mold, but the report the lab sends can't tell you this. One unused plate came back positive for mold growth, indicating contamination at some point; Not very reassuring for post-remediation use.

John P. Lapotaire, CIEC

Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant

Microshield Environmental Services, LLC

www.Microshield-ES.com