Air Testing

Health impact for indoor air biological pollutants: 

Some biological contaminants may trigger allergic reactions, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis,allergic rhinitis, some types of asthma. Molds and mildews release disease-causing toxins. Symptoms of health problems caused by biological pollutants may include:sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, lethargy fever and digestive problems (https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/biological-pollutants-impact-indoor-air-quality). Children, elderly people and people with breathing problems, allergies, and lung diseases are particularly susceptible to disease-causing biological agents in the indoor air.

USEPA has recommended a procedure which may be useful to monitor indoor air biological quality. It specifies exposing an open agar petri dish to the environment for 15 minutes, replacing the lid and incubating at 35° C for 48 hrs and then counting the number of colonies (https://nepis.epa.gov; search 600878017, page 196-7).

There are 3 different Easygel® media that are excellent for determing air quality, Total Count, Potato Dextrose and Mold Test.  Easygel® Total Count- is specially formulated to grow bacteria and molds at the same time and best suited for focusing on bacteria.  Easygel® Potato Dextrose is formulated for mold growth, however bacteria may also grow.  Finally, Easygel® Mold Test is formulated to grow just molds.

Easygel® is our patented testing method. It is not agar, but an agar replacement. Easygel® is asterilized, two-piece unit, including a bottle of liquid medium and a petri dish pre-treated (coating onthe bottom) with a special formulation. It is simple to use. Just pour one bottle of liquid medium into the bottom of a pre-treated petri dish. Within 60 minutes at room temperature, the solution solidifies into a gel.