Mold Testing Methods Compared
Choose a mold test by the question you need answered, the sample you can collect, and the laboratory method used. This guide compares gravity plates, surface samples, spore traps, ERMI, and HERTSMI-2, with current ImmunoLytics buying options below.
Before buying: visible mold and moisture problems often need correction without sampling. A mold test does not diagnose illness or certify that a home is safe. If a clinician or other professional requested a specific test, confirm the required method before ordering.
Comparing the Test Methods
We compare each testing method in the following areas: Sampling Approach. Collection Method, Analysis Method, Costs, and General Pros and Cons. Tap a button below to jump to that area.
Sampling Approach
Choose separate samples or a combined sample according to the question you need answered.
Individual Samples
A separately labeled sample preserves its collection location. Plates and spore traps may be collected in individual rooms; swabs target a particular surface. A finding describes the material collected at that location and time. It does not, by itself, pinpoint a hidden growth source or describe an entire room.
Composite Samples
A composite combines material from several collection areas into one sample. It can summarize the material collected, but the combined result cannot assign a finding to a specific room. ERMI and HERTSMI dust collection may use a composite; follow the selected laboratory protocol. Separate dust samples are also possible when a sampling plan calls for them.
Collection Method
The way mold is collected for each test method will significantly impact the discovery of mold.Â
Airborne
A gravity plate collects particles that settle onto its growth medium. A spore trap uses a pump to draw air through a collection device. These are different sampling methods, and their counts are not interchangeable. A short sampling period may miss conditions present at other times; a low or negative result does not rule out a moisture or mold problem.
Dust
Settled dust can contain material accumulated over time. Results depend on where and how it was collected and on the analysis selected. Dust findings do not establish when mold grew, whether a source is currently active, or what an occupant inhaled.
Surface
Swabs, tape lifts, or bulk samples examine material from a selected surface. They may help characterize suspected growth, but do not describe airborne exposure or the whole building. When mold is already visible, EPA says sampling is usually unnecessary before addressing the moisture and mold.
Analysis Method
The collection tool and the laboratory analysis are separate choices.
Culture and Microscopy
Culture examines growth on a suitable medium; it detects organisms able to grow under the conditions used. Microscopy examines visible structures in submitted material or cultured growth. The level of identification depends on the sample and method. ImmunoLytics plate reports describe mold genera and colony counts; a genus is a group that may contain multiple species.
These methods do not measure every mold species, airborne exposure, or mycotoxin concentration.
DNA-Based Analysis
Targeted DNA testing measures the mold targets included in the chosen panel. ERMI and HERTSMI-2 use specified targets and scoring methods. A DNA result does not by itself show whether the detected material is alive or locate a hidden source. Compare the requested targets, sample protocol, report, and interpretation support rather than assuming one method is universally best.
Mold Testing Costs and What Is Included
Current ImmunoLytics options
Compare the complete cost: collection supplies, the number of samples analyzed, return postage, delivery to you, and help understanding the results. Different methods answer different questions, so a single dust sample and several room samples are not interchangeable purchases.
| Option | Price and inclusions |
|---|---|
| Custom mold kit | Mold plate with lab analysis: $36 per sample. Choose the number of samples and add return postage in the kit builder. |
| Quickstart Kit | $216: 5 mold plates, 1 swab, lab analysis, report, expert consultation, and prepaid USPS return shipping within the USA. |
| Quickstart Kit Plus | $288: 5 mold plates, 3 bacteria plates, 1 swab, lab analysis, report, expert consultation, and prepaid overnight return shipping within the USA. |
| Dust History analysis | $90 per dust sample, available in the custom kit builder. This service does not produce an ERMI score. |
Kit delivery to you and applicable taxes are calculated at checkout. Return shipping is a separate journey from kit delivery. Only bacteria plates purchased with analysis receive an overnight return label; other sample returns use USPS unless you select another available option.
For spore-trap sampling, ERMI, HERTSMI, or an on-site inspection, request a current quote from the provider and confirm the collection protocol, analysis, number of samples, shipping, and interpretation included.
Compare kits and current offers or call 505-217-0339 for help choosing.
Compare the Question Each Method Can Answer
| Method | What the result describes |
|---|---|
| Gravity plate | Growth from material that settled onto the plate and grew under the test conditions. |
| Swab, tape lift, or bulk sample | Material collected from the selected surface, examined using the chosen laboratory method. |
| Spore trap | Particles captured from air during the collection period. |
| ERMI | The specified DNA targets in a dust sample and the ERMI calculation; EPA describes ERMI as a research tool. |
| HERTSMI-2 | Five specified mold targets in a dust sample and the HERTSMI-2 calculation. |
None of these results alone diagnoses illness, identifies an exact hidden source, or guarantees building safety.
Pros & Cons of Each Method
Useful for
- Collecting separately labeled settle-plate samples without an air pump.
- Observing colonies that grow under the test conditions.
- Obtaining laboratory identification of the growth submitted.
Limits
- Detects organisms that settle and grow on the selected medium.
- Does not measure a known volume of air or all airborne mold.
- Counts do not establish health risk or prove that a building is safe.
Gravity plates collect settling particles onto a growth medium. Collection conditions and growth conditions affect what appears on a plate. Laboratory analysis can describe the growth found, but a plate cannot locate an exact hidden source or replace a building investigation. ImmunoLytics offers kits with plate and swab analysis and a consultation to help explain the results.
Useful for
- Examining material from a specific surface or object.
- Characterizing suspected growth with an appropriate laboratory method.
Limits
- Represents the surface and material actually sampled.
- Does not establish whole-building conditions, airborne exposure, or health risk.
Swabs collect material from a selected surface; tape lifts and bulk samples use different collection tools. What the laboratory can report depends on the collection and analysis method. Visible mold often does not need sampling before the moisture and growth are addressed. For an ImmunoLytics surface sample, see swab analysis and collection information. Seek professional help before disturbing materials to investigate hidden mold.
Useful for
- Collecting an air sample with a pump and a defined collection period.
- Comparing samples within a professionally designed sampling plan.
Limits
- Requires appropriate equipment, calibration, and collection procedures.
- A short sample may not represent conditions at other times.
- Results alone cannot establish health risk or rule out a mold problem.
Spore traps collect airborne particles for laboratory examination. Sample volume, collection conditions, reference samples, and interpretation all matter. The result is a snapshot, not a complete measure of exposure. Ask the provider what the sampling plan can answer and whether an on-site moisture investigation is needed.
Useful for
- Measuring the defined mold targets in an ERMI dust analysis.
- Obtaining a score calculated using the ERMI method when that exact test has been requested.
Limits
- Does not test for every mold species or locate a hidden source.
- A composite cannot attribute a result to one room.
- EPA describes ERMI as a research tool and does not recommend it for other uses.
The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) uses DNA analysis of 36 mold targets in dust and a specified scoring calculation. Sampling procedures affect what the result represents. EPA developed ERMI for research and does not recommend its use outside research.
ImmunoLytics plate, swab, and Dust History analysis do not produce an ERMI score. If your clinician requested ERMI or another DNA panel, confirm that requirement with them before choosing an ImmunoLytics kit.
Useful for
- Testing the five mold targets in the HERTSMI-2 panel.
- Providing that specific result when requested by a clinician or other professional.
Limits
- Limited to the targets in the selected panel.
- Collection location and protocol affect what the sample represents.
- The score alone is not a universal building-safety or medical clearance.
HERTSMI-2 is a targeted dust test for five mold species with its own scoring approach. It differs from ERMI and from culture or microscopy. If a clinician requests HERTSMI-2, confirm the laboratory and collection protocol they require; an ImmunoLytics plate, swab, or Dust History result is not a substitute for that score.
For panel details, see the laboratory description of HERTSMI-2. A test result should be considered with the building history and investigation, and medical questions belong with a qualified healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mold Testing Methods
Which mold testing method is most accurate?
There is no single best method for every question. Choose the sample type and analysis that match your purpose. A targeted DNA score, a culture plate result, and a surface microscopy result measure different things and are not interchangeable.
How much does ImmunoLytics mold testing cost?
A custom mold plate with analysis is $36 per sample. The Quickstart Kit is $216 and the Quickstart Kit Plus is $288. Kit delivery and applicable taxes are calculated at checkout. See the cost comparison above for inclusions and return postage.
Do ImmunoLytics kits provide an ERMI or HERTSMI-2 score?
No. Plate, swab, and Dust History analysis do not produce those DNA-based scores. If a clinician requested ERMI, HERTSMI-2, or another specific panel, confirm the required test with them before purchasing.
Can a mold test tell me whether my home is safe or causing illness?
A mold test alone cannot establish that conclusion. CDC/NIOSH states that there are no health-based indoor-air mold standards and that short-term spore or culture counts cannot be interpreted as health-risk measurements. Discuss health concerns with a qualified healthcare professional.
Do I need to test visible mold?
EPA says sampling is usually unnecessary when mold is visible. Address the moisture and mold problem. Testing may help answer a specific question, but it should not delay needed action. An experienced professional can help investigate hidden growth or complex moisture problems.
What will I receive with laboratory analysis?
ImmunoLytics provides a laboratory report and consultation to explain the submitted samples. Plate reports describe mold genera and colony counts. A genus can include multiple species. These results do not measure mycotoxin concentrations or certify that a building is safe.
About ImmunoLytics
ImmunoLytics is an environmental mold testing laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Customers collect samples using the selected kit, return them for laboratory analysis, and receive a report with a consultation to help explain the findings.
Learn about our laboratory · Meet our environmental professionals · Contact us before ordering
Sources and testing limits
General testing guidance: CDC/NIOSH: mold testing and remediation; EPA: when mold sampling is necessary; EPA: ERMI research-use guidance.
Buying information updated September 7, 2026. ImmunoLytics provides environmental testing and does not diagnose or treat medical conditions. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about symptoms or medical testing.