Bulk Sampling
Bulk Sampling – Mold Testing
Bulk sampling is a mold testing method that requires removing a piece of suspected mold contaminated material, such as mold contaminated carpet, wood, or sheetrock, and having it analyzed in a laboratory to determine the genus and species of mold that are present on the bulk sample. We can determine both genus and species of mold that is present on a bulk sample and if it is a mold that is known to be a toxic mold, a pathogenic mold, allergenic mold, etc.
One of the drawbacks of collecting a bulk sample is that a determination cannot be made in regard to if the mold present, on the bulk sample, is releasing airborne mold spores that occupants are being exposed to. Therefore, it may be necessary to collect air samples in conjunction with the bulk sample, so that a correlation can be made regarding the genus and species of mold identified in the bulk sample and the genus and species of mold spores collected in an air sample.
Caution should always be used when collecting bulk samples to minimize the spread of toxic mold, toxic mold spores and dust particulate associated with the collection of the bulk sample. For example, removing a piece of toxic mold contaminated baseboard along a wall surface may expose occupants to toxic mold and toxic mold spores that could be present on the surface of the baseboard or even perhaps inside of the wall if the interior of a contaminated wall is exposed when the baseboard is removed.
Collecting a bulk sample for analysis is generally not needed to develop a plan to remove a mold problem. Bulk samples are usually collected for medical or legal purposes to determine if a mold colony is present that is a toxic mold or pathogenic mold.
