PHOENIX - Aerotech P&K has announced the availability of a new mold test suited to screen homes for mold. Based on recently published data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) researchers and the 2006 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) American Healthy Home Survey, the test has been developed as a tool to evaluate the potential risk of indoor mold growth and associated health effects.

The test involves the analysis of a single sample of dust from a home. The sample is analyzed using mold-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MSQPCR), a highly specific DNA-based method for quantifying mold species. A simple algorithm is used to calculate a ratio of water damage-related species to common indoor molds and the resulting score is called the EPA Relative Moldiness Index or ERMI. The ERMI value is typically between -10 and 20.

In order to most effectively use this new tool, the ERMI must be compared to a national database. Indices were determined using this method for 1,096 homes across the U.S. as part of the 2006 HUD American Healthy Home Survey. Individual indices, ranked from lowest to highest, were used to create a national Relative Moldiness Index (RMI) Scale.

In addition to the simplicity of taking only one sample, the ERMI offers several advantages over traditional mold screening methods. Carpet dust acts as a reservoir for mold spores and is more representative of mold levels over time versus short-term air samples. The use of MSQPCR for this test allows for increased precision as it is based on a biochemical assay using calibrated instrumentation. Further research is being conducted and published that will link the ERMI assessing health risks for susceptible individuals. This information along with the national database will be important in providing a standardized method for screening homes for mold.

For more information, visit www.aerotechpk.com.

Publication date: 11/20/2006