Mold Sampling Instructions (ERMI Testing)

 

Step 1.  Prepare Your House For Testing

Minimize the amount of movement in the home the day before testing and during the test period. Turn off portable

fans to avoid blowing air over the areas where the sampling will be done. Keep people away from the areas to be

tested. The goal is to avoid disturbing settled dust and making it airborne shortly before or during the test.

 

Step 2.  Collect the Equipment Needed

• 1 tape measure (25 feet)
• 1 vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
• 1 25-foot extension cord
• 1 roll of duct, paint, or masking tape 

• Stopwatch or kitchen timer with 5 minute increments
• 1 vacuum dust kit (purchased from EMSL Analytical, Inc.)

 

Prepare the Test Areas

For residential sampling, the EPA recommends taking the living room and bedroom sample as a composite,
using the same vacuum dust collector for both rooms. Other areas should be sampled separately.

1. In the common living area (family room or living room), sample the sofa area for mold. (In the absence of a sofa,

select another commonly used chair.) Using the tape measure and the roll of tape, mark the corners of a 3 foot x

6 foot rectangular sampling area on the floor immediately against the sofa. Place the long side of the rectangle

against the long side of the sofa. If the area cannot accommodate the recommended sampling area, adjust the

dimensions accordingly, but try to sample a total of 18 square feet. On the data sheet, record the final sampling

area you marked with tape on the lines corresponding to the room you sampled.

 

2. For the bedroom sample, select the most frequently used bedroom. If there is more than one bed in the

bedroom, select the most frequently used bed. Using the tape measure and the roll of tape, mark the corners of a

3 foot x 6 foot rectangular sampling area on the floor immediately against the side of the bed where the person is

most likely to get in and out of the bed. If possible, try to extend the rectangular sampling area under the bed by

3 or 4 inches, so that part of the sample goes under the bed. Place the long side of the rectangle against the long

side of the bed. If the area cannot accommodate the recommended sampling area, adjust the dimensions

accordingly, but try to sample a total of 18 square feet. On the data sheet, record the final sampling area you

marked with tape on the lines next to the bedroom you sampled.

 

3. Areas other than the Living Room, Family Rooms, or Bedrooms may be sampled as well. If you choose to

sample other areas, a separate vacuum dust collector should be used for each area. Please call the lab if you have

any questions.

 

4. To familiarize yourself with the procedures, read over Step 3 below before you start the test.

 

Step 3. Taking the Test

1. Make sure the hose attachment is connected to your vacuum cleaner properly. Turn on the vacuum cleaner to

make sure the hose attachment is pulling air, then turn off the vacuum cleaner.

 

2. Sometimes the dust collection device will not fit correctly onto the hose attachment. If this is the case, you may

use duct tape or electrical tape to tape the dust collector to the hose attachment.

 

3. Use an extension cord as needed to reach the marked area with the vacuum hose.

 

4. Remove both caps from the sampling device. Place the caps in a location where you can find them after the

test is complete.

 

5. Attach the flat, round end of the sampling device to the end of the hose attachment of your vacuum cleaner.

 

6. Use the slanted end of the sampling device to collect your sample. Keep the slanted end of the sampling device

flush with the surface to be sampled.

 

7. Turn on the vacuum cleaner, and start your watch or timer. Start timing the vacuuming procedure using the

stopwatch. Avoid disturbing the tape. Do not exceed the 5 minute sampling period.

 

8. Vacuum the area contained within the duct or electrical tape. Pass the sampling device over what you can

imagine to be slightly overlapping, parallel lines within the sampling area for about 5 minutes. If necessary, adjust

your rate of movement so that a total of 5 minutes is used to vacuum the entire 18 square foot sampling area.

 

9. Move to the second room and repeat the vacuuming of the target area. After the sampling is completed, hold

the sampling device upward toward the ceiling, and turn off the vacuum cleaner. Re-cap the slanted end of the

sampling device to avoid losing the dust collected.

 

10. Avoid vacuuming up any large debris that is not dust. If you accidentally suck up the tape, point the sampling

device toward the ceiling and turn off the vacuum cleaner. Pick the tape out of the sampling device. Turn the

vacuum cleaner back on and return to vacuuming the sampling area. Be sure to account for lost sample time

when you do this so you get a total of 5 minutes of sampling time.

 

11. Separate the sampling device from the hose of the vacuum cleaner, and re-cap the flat end of the device.

 

12. After the small caps are secured on the mold sampling device, make sure there is dust in the sampling

container before you send it to the lab. If no dust is visible, repeat the sampling procedure in both rooms in

different locations until visible dust is present in the device.

 

13. If you lose the small caps, seal the openings completely and securely with duct or electrical tape.

 

Step 4. Complete the Paperwork

• On the data sheet, fill in the number of the sampling device, located underneath the bar code on the side 
  of the box, where necessary.

• Identify all the areas sampled using that particular sampling device number on the data sheet.

• Fill out all the information completely, and account for any adjustment of the 18 square foot sampling area.

• Choose when you would like to receive your results. (At no extra cost, they will be ready after 5 business days.
  Additional payment required for turnarounds faster than 5 days.)

• Place the sampling device with its correct data sheet back in the box.

• Seal the box with tape to prevent opening during shipment.

 

Step 5. Mail Your Sample in the Pre-Paid Envelope

It is essential that only labs that are licensed by the EPA to use this patented
technology perform this analysis. EMSL currently holds this license with the EPA.