Diy Mold Test Kits – Limitations Of Settling Plates

While it may be tempting to use a do it yourself (DIY) mold test kit that utilizes settling plates to diagnose mold in a home or other type of building, this over-the-counter method often has many shortcomings.



Settling plates are petri dishes set out over a period of time to determine the presence of mold. The concept is that mold in the air will settle on the plates and begin to grow as the mold uses the agar in the petri dish as a food source. People are instructed to leave the plate out for a specific amount of time and then put the lid back on and monitor for any mold growth over specific time periods. If mold is found to be growing, the consumer then has the option to send the petri dish to a laboratory to have it analyzed, usually for an additional fee.

There are significant limitations to this type of testing, including the fact that some airborne mold is a natural part of the environment and can usually be found all around us. Other limitations may include:

Perhaps the greatest drawback to this type of mold test kit is there is no inspection by a qualified and experienced mold or indoor air quality professional. An inspection is a critical part of a mold investigation and often requires specialized instrumentation. In fact, the EPA states, “Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results.”