CHEAP MOLD TESTING THAT CAN SAVE YOU
THOUSANDS! A MUST FOR NEW HOMEBUYERS.

Are you buying a home or a money pit? This simple and cheap test can save you thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Many water leaks lurk behind wall cavities, behind appliances or in ceilings and are not obvious to home inspectors or even sellers. Before you close on a home, be it a new or older home, do your own investigation to ensure you are not buying a money pit. A $40 investment could also help you knock thousands of dollars off the offer price.

Left uncorrected, water leaks can cause structural damage because over time, wet wood (beams, studs, plates, floor joists, etc…) can become degraded. Wet building materials also attract termites and cause mold to colonize and spread. Certain aggressive molds consume the materials on which they grow, further exacerbating structural damage.

Texas Tech University has agreed to analyze samples for $40 each. Texas Tech can also tell you if mycotoxins (the tiny poisons emitted from a small number of mold spores) are also present, and if so, to what degree.

If toxigenic mold is present in samples, you should send the findings to the seller and real estate agent representing the seller, via certified mail, so the seller and agent are put on notice and must disclose the findings to any buyer or make proper (and often, expensive) repairs. Should toxigenic mold or mycotoxins be present in any serious quantity and you still want to purchase the property, you should get binding bids from remediators for proper repairs and deduct that amount from your offer.

Follow these simple instructions to conduct your own sampling: (click here for actual instructions from Texas Tech Univeristy)

MATERIALS NEEDED: Scotch Tape, Q-tips, Zip Lock Baggies (small and large), Surgical gloves (a box of them), Pen, Overnight Envelope and Label, the Texas Tech Chain of Custody form completely filled out (click here to download chain of custody form).

Sample Identification Fees
Mold related samples can be supplied to the laboratory for identification and where necessary, enumeration of molds. Molds are identified to species level where practical.

*Please fill out a Chain of Custody form for each submission of samples

Laboratory Analyses Fee Schedule

Identification and enumeration of fungal colonies from agar plates
Fungi are identified to genus level and species level wherever possible. Agar plates are supplied to the laboratory. Due to fungal growth requirements, turnaround time is generally 7-10 working days.
Cost: $40.00

Identification and enumeration of fungal spores, pollen particles, fibers, etc from spore traps such as Air-O-Cell slides, Allergenco slides, Burkard, etc.
Fungal spores are identified to genus level and species level wherever possible. Spore traps are supplied to the laboratory. Generally 2-4 working days turnaround time, depending on laboratory workflow.
Cost: $40.00

Identification and enumeration of fungal colonies from bulk samples.
Fungal identification to genus level and to species level wherever possible. Samples supplied to the laboratory. Due to fungal growth requirements, turnaround time is generally 7-10 working days.
Cost: $40.00

Identification of fungal spores and hyphae from tape slides only
Fungal spores identified to genus level and to species level where possible. Tape slides supplied to the laboratory. Average of 1 day turnaround time.
Cost $25.00

Identification of fungal spores and hyphae from tape slides plus identification of fungal colonies from an accompanying swab to the tape slide.
Fungal identification to genus level and to species level wherever possible. Tape slides and swab supplied to the laboratory. Average of 1 working day turnaround time for tape slides. Due to fungal growth requirements, turnaround time for swabs is generally 7-10 working days.
Cost: $40.00

Miscellaneous

Human biological specimens (blood, sputum, etc.) are not accepted or processed by this laboratory.

Transportation costs of all samples are the responsibility of the supplier. Suppliers receive an invoice in conjunction with a sample result. Payment can be made by cash or check only. Checks should be made payable to TTUHSC.

The prices and services advertised on this site are subject to change without notice. If you have questions pertaining to the type of sampling you need done or cost estimates, please contact the lab by phone at (806) 743-2466.

All lab fees as of March 14, 2003

More info about Texas Tech University's Dept. of Microbiology/Immunology: http://www.indoorairresearch.net/


DON'T HAVE 15 BUSINESS DAYS BUT DO HAVE LESS THAN $25?

For those homebuyers with tighter time constraints on their closing, here's another method of sampling however, this method only catches two types of toxigenic mold. The test is similar to a home pregnancy test and is manufactured by EnviroLogix. The manufacturer has made its kit available to POA members (free and full members) at a special discount. Click here to order the discounted kit.

Here's how to get your POA discount: After you enter your shipping information, put in the POA103 code, click the button and it recalculates your total order. Then enter your credit card information and you will receive a confirmation.

Test kits are usually shipped the same business day and can be sent via overnight mail on request. Credit cards accepted.

WHAT HAPPENS IF RESULTS ARE POSITIVE?

If results are positive, this indicates that there could be serious water intrusion problems with the property. You should find out just how extensive the problem is (if, for example, the water intrusion has led to structural problems) and what it will cost to repair the problem BEFORE you close on the property as you might otherwise be purchasing a money pit. In fact, sometimes, the cost of repair equals or exceeds the value of the property.

Remember to ALWAYS send the property owner and their agent a certified copy of the results so they know the results and can make proper repairs or reduce the asking price accordingly. If the owner is reluctant to make needed repairs, get a binding bid from a qualified professional to repair the property and reduce the offer price by the amount of the bid.

REMEMBER….AGENTS, SELLERS AND EVEN SOME HOME INSPECTORS ARE MOTIVATED TO SELL A PROPERTY, BE IT A MONEY PIT OR NOT. NEVER PURCHASE A HOME WITHOUT DOING YOUR OWN INVESTIGATION. AN INFORMED BUYER IS A HAPPY AND PROTECTED HOMEOWNER!