Self-Analysis of Mold Plates
Know if you need to send your sample plates to our lab.
self-analysis instructions
Step 1. Before you Start
Allow Mold to Grow
Seal, label, and place your samples in foil bags. Store them for 5-7 days in a warm (68 – 85ºF), dark place. If there is no mold growth yet, store them for another 7 or 8 days.
Your Goal is to Count Colonies
Hold a mold plate up to a light and count the number of colonies (circles) growing on the agar. 0-4 is Normal. 5-8 is Concerning. 9+ is Hazardous. Both Concerning and Hazardous range should be sent in for lab analysis.
Colony Size Doesn't Matter
Size of the colony is not important. Small or large, it’s still just 1.
Always Check the Back of Plates
Always check the back of your plate. Colonies can be underneath other colonies.
Know when to get lab analysis.
Mold Levels Health Scale
0-4
Normal Mold Levels
Health likely unaffected and does not need lab analysis.
5-8
Concerning Mold Levels
Could be affecting health and needs lab analysis.
9+
Hazardous Mold Levels
Very likely affecting health and needs lab analysis.
Self-analysis examples
Step 2. Find Closest Match
Tap Plates
To see outlines of each colony
Tap Labels
For additional information about analyzing each plate.
Use FLIP Button
To view both sides of each plate.
A1 - Two Colonies
Plate A1 shows two mold colonies.
A2 - Too Numerous To Count (TNTC)
Plate A2 shows so many mold colonies that the plate would be labeled as Too Numerous To Count (TNTC). TNTC occurs anytime a plate has many colonies, for example greater than fifty colonies.
B1 - Five Colonies
In Scenario B, Plate B1 shows a plate with five mold colonies.
B2 - One Large Colony
Plate B2 shows one colony that covers the entire plate. This scenario demonstrates that colonies are counted regardless of whether they are the same size or not, the size of the colony does not matter.
C - Secondary Growth
Scenario C shows that sometimes not all the mold colonies on a plate are counted. When one colony is significantly larger than the rest only the large colony is counted, the rest of the colonies are secondary growth. Secondary growth colonies do not come from the environment that was tested, rather they grow off the original colony, hence secondary growth. Colonies are only counted as secondary growth if it is the same kind of mold as the larger colony (i.e., it looks the same). This plate has one colony. The colony has a red circle around it and the secondary growth has a blue circle around it.
D - Too Numerous To Count (TNTC)
Scenario D shows a plate that appears empty but is counted as Too Numerous To Count (TNTC), because the colonies are all smeared together along the edge of the plate. In this scenario the plate is labeled TNTC, because the colonies are indistinct.
E - Hidden Colonies
Scenario E shows a plate that looks like it only has one colony, but really has four colonies. This is because a fast-growing mold has covered the colonies beneath. The back of the plate reveals the actual number of colonies. Always look at the back of the plate, it is often easier to count the colonies from the back, and any colonies that are covered up will be visible.
F - Single Large Colony
In Scenario F, a plate that is completely covered in mold is counted as one colony, because the colony has a fast rate of growth. The backside of the plate also shows that there are no colonies growing beneath the colony visible from the front.
G - Too Numerous To Count (TNTC)
Scenario G shows a plate that is counted as Too Numerous To Count (TNTC) because the colonies are indistinguishable from each other.
H - Deceptive Line
In Scenario H, a plate that looks almost empty except for one line of mold. The line of mold, encircled with a black circle, would be counted as Too Numerous To Count (TNTC), because the colonies overlap and there is no clear distinction between where one colony ends, and another begins.
I1 - One Colony
Scenario I shows six plates with anywhere from one to five colonies. Scenario I1 has one colonies, scenario I2 has four colonies, scenario I3 has five colonies (count from back of plate), scenario I4 has two colonies, scenario I5 has five colonies, and scenario I6 has two colonies.
I5 - Five Colonies
Scenario I shows six plates with anywhere from one to five colonies. Scenario I1 has one colonies, scenario I2 has four colonies, scenario I3 has five colonies (count from back of plate), scenario I4 has two colonies, scenario I5 has five colonies, and scenario I6 has two colonies.
I2 - Four Colonies
Scenario I shows six plates with anywhere from one to five colonies. Scenario I1 has one colonies, scenario I2 has four colonies, scenario I3 has five colonies (count from back of plate), scenario I4 has two colonies, scenario I5 has five colonies, and scenario I6 has two colonies.
I6 - Two Colonies
Scenario I shows six plates with anywhere from one to five colonies. Scenario I1 has one colonies, scenario I2 has four colonies, scenario I3 has five colonies (count from back of plate), scenario I4 has two colonies, scenario I5 has five colonies, and scenario I6 has two colonies.
I3 - Five Colonies
Scenario I shows six plates with anywhere from one to five colonies. Scenario I1 has one colonies, scenario I2 has four colonies, scenario I3 has five colonies (count from back of plate), scenario I4 has two colonies, scenario I5 has five colonies, and scenario I6 has two colonies.
I4 - Two Colonies
Scenario I shows six plates with anywhere from one to five colonies. Scenario I1 has one colonies, scenario I2 has four colonies, scenario I3 has five colonies (count from back of plate), scenario I4 has two colonies, scenario I5 has five colonies, and scenario I6 has two colonies.
J1 - Six Colonies
Scenario J shows six plates with anywhere from five to eight colonies. Scenario J1 has six colonies. J5 has seven colonies (count from front of the plate), scenario J3 has seven colonies, scenario J4 has six colonies, scenario J5 has seven colonies, and scenario J6 has eight colonies.
J5 - Seven Colonies
Scenario J shows six plates with anywhere from five to eight colonies. Scenario J1 has six colonies. J5 has seven colonies (count from front of the plate), scenario J3 has seven colonies, scenario J4 has six colonies, scenario J5 has seven colonies, and scenario J6 has eight colonies.
J2 - Five Colonies
Scenario J shows six plates with anywhere from five to eight colonies. Scenario J1 has six colonies. J5 has seven colonies (count from front of the plate), scenario J3 has seven colonies, scenario J4 has six colonies, scenario J5 has seven colonies, and scenario J6 has eight colonies.
J6 - Eight Colonies
Scenario J shows six plates with anywhere from five to eight colonies. Scenario J1 has six colonies. J5 has seven colonies (count from front of the plate), scenario J3 has seven colonies, scenario J4 has six colonies, scenario J5 has seven colonies, and scenario J6 has eight colonies.
J3 - Seven Colonies
Scenario J shows six plates with anywhere from five to eight colonies. Scenario J1 has six colonies. J5 has seven colonies (count from front of the plate), scenario J3 has seven colonies, scenario J4 has six colonies, scenario J5 has seven colonies, and scenario J6 has eight colonies.
J4 - Six Colonies
Scenario J shows six plates with anywhere from five to eight colonies. Scenario J1 has six colonies. J5 has seven colonies (count from front of the plate), scenario J3 has seven colonies, scenario J4 has six colonies, scenario J5 has seven colonies, and scenario J6 has eight colonies.
K1 - Eleven Colonies
Scenario K shows six plates with nine or more colonies. Scenario K1 has eleven colonies, scenario K2 has twelve colonies, scenario K3 has twenty-two colonies (count from front of plate), scenario K4 has ten colonies, scenario K5 has seventeen colonies, scenario K6 has nine colonies.
K5 - Seventeen Colonies
Scenario K shows six plates with nine or more colonies. Scenario K1 has eleven colonies, scenario K2 has twelve colonies, scenario K3 has twenty-two colonies (count from front of plate), scenario K4 has ten colonies, scenario K5 has seventeen colonies, scenario K6 has nine colonies.
K2 - Twelve Colonies
Scenario K shows six plates with nine or more colonies. Scenario K1 has eleven colonies, scenario K2 has twelve colonies, scenario K3 has twenty-two colonies (count from front of plate), scenario K4 has ten colonies, scenario K5 has seventeen colonies, scenario K6 has nine colonies.
K6 - Nine Colonies
Scenario K shows six plates with nine or more colonies. Scenario K1 has eleven colonies, scenario K2 has twelve colonies, scenario K3 has twenty-two colonies (count from front of plate), scenario K4 has ten colonies, scenario K5 has seventeen colonies, scenario K6 has nine colonies.
K3 - Twenty-Two Colonies
Scenario K shows six plates with nine or more colonies. Scenario K1 has eleven colonies, scenario K2 has twelve colonies, scenario K3 has twenty-two colonies (count from front of plate), scenario K4 has ten colonies, scenario K5 has seventeen colonies, scenario K6 has nine colonies.
K4 - Ten Colonies
Scenario K shows six plates with nine or more colonies. Scenario K1 has eleven colonies, scenario K2 has twelve colonies, scenario K3 has twenty-two colonies (count from front of plate), scenario K4 has ten colonies, scenario K5 has seventeen colonies, scenario K6 has nine colonies.
L - Secondary Growth
The total count on this plate is two colonies. The first-generation growth colonies are surrounded by a red circle and the secondary growth is surrounded by a blue circle.
Found More Than 5 Colonies?
Step 3. Sending Plates to our Lab
$36 per mold plate
Each includes:
1. professional Lab analysis
2. a compressive report on mold found
3. phone consultation about your results.
If needed, we will contact you about payment when we receive your plates.
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
Sending to Lab in Winter:
To ensure samples are not affected by freezing temperatures, place samples in included foil envelopes and store at room temperature (above 65°F) for 2 to 3 days before shipping.
