How to Use the Collection Kit
Mold Testing Guide: Step-by-Step Kit Instructions
What do I need?
Your Collection Kit
You’ll receive your collection kit in the mail. First register your kit and then you’ll be ready for testing.
Have you registered your kit?
Mold Check-Up Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow the steps below or view our video guide.
1
Preparation
Evaluate What Needs to be Tested.
Evaluate all areas that should be tested including vehicles and even pets.
NOTE: Be sure to use sampling plates before expiration date.
Expiration date is located on the side of each plate. Store at room temperature.
Test areas that are known or suspected of having water leaks (e.g. – roof leaks, flooding, pipe leaks, etc.) If specific areas cause sneezing and coughing, they should be included. Include more than one mold plate in large areas or rooms.
We recommend testing each of the following areas:
Bathroom
Basement
Master Bedroom
Den/Great Room
Car
Kitchen
Child's Bedroom
Office (Home & Work)
2
Sample
Sample Your Rooms, Cars, Pets, and Surfaces for Mold.
Sample as soon as possible, but do not open mold plates until you are ready to use them.Â
Rooms
When testing a room, select an area to place a mold plate that is at least 2 feet from the wall.
Remove the mold plate lid and place bottom (contains yellow agar) on a flat surface to test for one hour.Â
Review this preparation checklist before sampling.
Keep windows closed for at least six hours prior to testing.
Don’t turn on air conditioning unless that is part of your normal activity. However, do turn on the central fan of the heating and air conditioning system.
Turn off stand-alone air purifiers minimum of 6 hours (preferably 24 hours) prior to testing.
Don’t sweep or vacuum just before the test.
Rooms can be used as normal during sampling including children and pets. Please ensure pets don’t touch or lick plates.
Vehicles
When testing a vehicle, keep windows and doors closed during the entire process, other than entering and exiting the vehicle.
Remove the mold plate lid and place a plate on a paper towel on the front passenger’s seat or center console.
Turn on your engine and let the air-conditioner or heater blow for 30 minutes on re-circulate (Max). Turn off the car and let the plate sit for another 30 minutes.
Pets
Tap test when testing a particular piece of furniture, rug, car seat, carpeting, pillow, sofa, pet, or any textile.
Wash & dry your hands thoroughly prior to testing.
Hold the plate so the yellow agar is facing towards the object or pet. Tap the object in 4 different representative places (The yellow agar should not touch the object). This will force the mold spores into the air and onto the plate.
Suspected Visible Mold
Swab any potential visible mold.
Swab the area to be sampled until the end of the swab is discolored. Cover as much of the swab as possible with the potential mold.
Dust History
Understand the mold history of your indoor environment. One Swiffer® cloth tests up to 500 square feet.
Review this checklist before sampling.
Good places to collect dust include the tops of non-fabric furniture, the top of a refrigerator, door frames, ceiling fan blades, bookshelves, flooring under or behind furniture, and the top of a TV.
Plan on using one Swiffer® cloth for every 500 square feet. This gives the most accurate results.
Do not collect dust from areas that were cleaned in the last two weeks. Recently cleaned spots will not have enough settled dust.
Avoid collecting dust from high-traffic areas like walkways.
3
Seal & Label
Seal and Label Your Samples.
Seal & Label
Plate Samples
- Seal your mold/bacteria plates with 2 stickers.
- Create a blue label for each mold plate with a unique name and the date and time of testing.
- Place it on the on the bottom of the plates (the darker side with the agar).
Close & Label
Swab Samples
- Return the swab to its container and close snug.
- Create a blue label for each swab sample with a unique name and the date and time of testing.
- Place it on the swab container.
Bag & Label
Dust History Samples
- Fold the Swiffer® cloth (rough side facing in) and place it inside the bag it came in.
- Create an orange label for each dust history sample with a unique name and the date and time of testing.
- Place the label on the outside of the Swiffer® cloth bag.
Complete Lab Form
Record your samples on the Lab Analysis form, matching the information from each respective, color matching, label.Â
4
Prep for Analysis
Properly Pack and Send Your Samples for Lab Analysis
Lab must receive sample within 10 days of sampling.
Ensure your shipping method will deliver your samples in time.
Place Samples in the Protective Bag and then in the box.
Only include the samples you would like analyzed.
Fill out the Lab Processing form and place in the box.
Follow the instructions on the Lab Processing Form.
Fill with packing material and send the kit to the lab.
ImmunoLytics • 5930 Midway Park Blvd. NE • Albuquerque, NM 87109
Use your pre-paid lab return label or print your own label
Seal and Store
Ensure all of your samples are sealed, labeled and placed in foil bags.
Store in dark place
Place foil bags in a warm (68 – 85ºF), dark place such as a kitchen cabinet or desk drawer.
Wait 5-7 days
After 5 to 7 days pull the samples out for analysis. If there is no mold growth, place the samples back in the foil packet and reanalyze after 7 to 8 days.
Check for Mold
Hold a mold plate up to a light and count the number of colonies (circles) growing on the agar. Compare to our health scale. Size of the circles is not important.
Read your gravity plates
Colony Count and Health Effects
0 to 4 total fungal colonies per area (room)
Is within a normal range for sinus health.
5 to 8 total fungal colonies per area (room)
Is cause for concern-illness is probable in individuals who are susceptible.
9 or greater total fungal colonies per area (room)
Is hazardous-illness likely in individuals who are susceptible.
5
Consultation
Prepare for Your Consultation
Once the lab analysis is complete, an ImmunoLytics Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP), supervised by JW Biava, CMI, CMRC, will contact you to review your lab results, explain the genera of mold identified, and make recommendations based on your findings.
Call us any time to discuss your situation before or after purchase!
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5930 Midway Park Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-217-0339
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About ImmunoLytics
ImmunoLytics is a U.S.-based environmental testing company founded in 2006. The company has processed over 350,000 mold samples across more than 85,000 client orders. ImmunoLytics provides at-home mold testing kits, professional mycology lab analysis capable of identifying more than 37,000 species of mold, and one-on-one consultations with certified Indoor Environmental Professionals (IEPs) supervised by JW Biava, CMI, CMRC. JW Biava has personally conducted or supervised over 100,000 indoor air quality inspections through Assaigai DBA AirWell. ImmunoLytics serves homeowners, renters, property managers, and individuals with mold-related health conditions including CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome). Testing begins at $36 per room. Sister companies CitriSafe and BioBalance offer complementary mold treatment and remediation products.
Since 2006 · 350,000+ Mold Samples Analyzed · 100,000+ IAQ Inspections · JW Biava, CMI, CMRC — ISEAI Board Member · 4.9★ Google Rating (47 reviews)
IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE: The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Mold exposure affects individuals differently. If you have health concerns related to mold exposure, consult a licensed medical professional. ImmunoLytics provides environmental testing services only and does not diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition.
Related guides: bacteria testing guide · self-analyzing your mold plates · interpreting your results · dust history testing
Frequently Asked Questions About Mold Testing
How do I use an ImmunoLytics mold test kit?
Remove the mold plate lid and place the dish (yellow agar side up) on a flat surface in the area you want to test. Leave it open for one hour. For a tap test, take the dish in the palm of your hand with fingers extended and gently tap a suspected surface above it to dislodge settled spores. Replace the lid, seal the dish, and mail it to our lab using the prepaid return packaging included in your kit.
How long should I leave the mold test plate open?
Leave the plate open for one hour in the area being tested. Do not open plates until you are ready to use them, and sample as soon as possible after opening. Test areas at least 2 feet from the wall and away from HVAC vents. Do not exceed the expiration date printed on the side of each plate.
Which rooms should I test for mold?
ImmunoLytics recommends testing any room with known or suspected water leaks (roof, flooding, or pipe leaks) and any area where occupants experience sneezing or coughing. Priority rooms include bathrooms, basements, master bedrooms, kitchens, and children’s bedrooms. Use more than one plate in large rooms or open-plan areas.
What do my colony count results mean?
After 5–7 days of incubation, count the colonies (circles) growing on the agar. 0–4 colonies per area is within a normal range for sinus health. 5–8 colonies is cause for concern — illness is probable in susceptible individuals. 9 or more colonies is considered hazardous — illness is likely in susceptible individuals. Your lab report will include a full genera-level analysis and health risk classification.
What happens after I send my mold plates to the lab?
Once received, our certified mycology laboratory analyzes your plates under microscopy, identifying mold genera and colony concentrations. An ImmunoLytics IEP, supervised by JW Biava, CMI, CMRC, will then contact you to review your results, explain findings, and recommend next steps — at no additional charge.