Mold

Black Mold

Test Kit

Our straightforward DIY test allows you to identify the presence of mold, pollen, and dust mites in your submitted sample.

PRO-LAB's Black Mold Test Kit

Our Black Mold Test Kit employs a patented laboratory analytical method, ensuring precision and reliability. To determine the potential presence of mold, consider the following indicators:

Discoloration or black mold on baseboards, wallboards, or wallpaper.
Cracks in shower tile, lack of caulking, loose toilet seal, or sink leaks.
Carpet and padding in direct contact with a concrete slab.
Poorly maintained or dirty air conditioning/heating vents and filters.
Damp basement or crawl space.
Water penetration (water marks on walls, mold spots on walls).
Musty/moldy odor.

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you may be at risk of exposure to toxic black mold.

Understanding Mold and Its Habitat

Mold consists of microscopic organisms that produce spores and are pervasive, both indoors and outdoors. Mold can be found on various surfaces, including plants, foods, dry leaves, and organic materials like cardboard, paper, ceiling tiles, and sheet rock. Mold spores can become airborne easily through activities such as vacuuming or walking on carpets. In indoor environments, mold can thrive in air conditioning ducts, carpets, and even potted houseplants.

Health Implications of Mold Exposure

Exposure to mold can be detrimental to health, particularly for infants, children, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and those with existing respiratory conditions. Inhaling even small amounts of mold can lead to various health problems, including respiratory issues (wheezing), congestion, eye and throat irritation, skin problems, aches, pains, fevers, asthma, emphysema, and, in severe cases, death.

Mold's Presence Throughout Your Home

Mold can thrive in various areas within your home, including:

Attic
Living Room
Bathrooms
HVAC Ventilation System
Bedrooms
Kitchens
Basements
Any Moist Area
Carpets
Garage

Exposure to Mold

Mold spores, similar to seeds, can become airborne when moldy materials are damaged or disturbed. Several indoor moisture sources may contribute to mold issues in your home or office, including flooding, leaky roofs, humidifiers, damp basements or crawl spaces, persistent plumbing leaks, houseplants, steam from cooking, shower/bath steam and leaks, wet clothes, and indoor clothes dryer vents.

Protect Yourself: Testing Is the First Line of Defense

To determine if mold is a concern in your living or working space, you must conduct a mold test. The PRO-LAB Mold Test Kit employs a patented laboratory analytical method, ensuring accuracy and reliability. This user-friendly DIY test allows you to identify the presence of toxic mold, pollen, or dust mites in your sample.

The Black Mold Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra)

Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra) is a greenish-black toxic mold that thrives particularly well in high-cellulose materials like straw, hay, wet leaves, drywall, carpet, wallpaper, fiberboard, ceiling tiles, and thermal insulation. Stachybotrys is wet and slightly slimy to the touch before drying. There are approximately 15 species of Stachybotrys found worldwide. This toxic mold grows in areas with relative humidity above 55% and does not grow on plastic, vinyl, concrete products, or ceramic tiles. It differs from the green mold on bread or black mold on shower tiles.

Health Implications of Stachybotrys Exposure

Stachybotrys produces a mycotoxin that can lead to human mycotoxicosis. Exposure to Stachybotrys spores, especially in children, is linked to pulmonary hemosiderosis (lung bleeding). Symptoms associated with exposure to Stachybotrys mold spores include:

Respiratory issues (wheezing and breathing difficulties)
Nasal and sinus congestion
Eye irritation (burning, watery, reddened, blurry vision, light sensitivity)
Dry cough
Sore throat
Nose and throat irritation
Shortness of breath
Chronic fatigue
Skin irritation
Central nervous system problems (headaches, memory issues, mood changes)
General discomfort (aches, pains, possible fever)
Diarrhea
Potential hemosiderosis
Immune suppression

Fast Results

Ready to take control of your indoor air quality? Don’t wait any longer – pick up a PRO-LAB® Mold Test Kit today and gain peace of mind.

We are located in Miami FL and ready to answer any questions you have.