The subject of testing for mold is a complex one and really varies from situation to situation. I have an entire page dedicated to the basics of mold testing so please head over there and give it a read.
Now that you are up to speed on whyyou should test for mold, when you should test for mold, and the various moldtest options, let’s talk about those DIY mold test kits.
Home mold tests can also be referredto as a black mold test kit, a mold detection kit, and a petri test. They areall one in the same and employ one of two testing methods.
Types of Home Mold Test Kits
Method one is a petri dish type mold test.
The user leaves the open petri dish in a room for a specific period of time (known as settle sampling) and then allows the petri dish to grow whatever landed on it. The specific mold test should come with a chart showing you what the various types of mold that might grow on the petri dish look like. You can then determine if mold might be growing in that area of your home.
The limitation with this method is two fold. First, airborne mold spores can change second by second. So you likely are not getting an accurate look at what is going on in your home. Secondly, you don’t know exactly what type of mold is growing as a lot of molds are the same color and texture.
There is a more advanced option with the petri dish testing in that you can send the dishes into a lab where they will analyze the colonies that grow and email you a report telling you exactly what was growing on the petri dish. Again, you are limited by what spores were floating around at that exact moment but at least you have a better idea of the types of mold that may be in your home.
In order for the petri dish method tobe even halfway effective, you really need to put a test plate in every room ofyour house.
These petri dishes can also be used toconduct surface mold sampling where you use a swab to collect a sample of anyvisible mold. Then you transfer the contents of the swab onto the petri dish.The analysis works the same way.
Method two is a tape lift type of test.
This is best used when you have visible mold to determine the exact species. You place the tape against the mold growth, seal it, then send it off for analysis.
Tape lift mold tests can be used to lift material from just about any area with the hope that a mold spore ends up on the tape. While this can happen, it has limitations.
Where Can I Buy A Mold Test Kit?
It depends on the specific home mold test kit. You can find a lot of different ones on Amazon or in places like Lowes or Home Depot. Other kits are found at specific online retailers.
Do DIY Mold Test Kits Work
They work… but they don’t provide any meaningful answers and are a bit of a waste of money in that sense. Like you read on my Mold Testing page, the ERMI test is a much better “DIY” type of mold test and one that is used by professionals as well.
If you suspect a mold problem but do not actually see it or smell it, these test kits DO NOT help you locate the problem or tell you how serious it is. So while a DIY mold test kit can indicate there is mold in your home, it doesn’t do much more than that. You still need to figure out where the mold growth is, how much mold there is, and why mold is growing.
Really, there is no substitute for a professional mold inspection. You need that visual component to go along with any mold tests.
Having said that, the home mold testkits listed below are a popular and affordable first step in determining if youhave a mold problem that warrants additional testing or if you should hire aprofessional mold inspector.
In the interest of making sure youchoose the very best home mold test kit, I am sharing my top picks based onrigorous testing.
The 7 Best Mold Test Kits
Pro- Lab Mold Test Kit
This is by far the gold standard for home mold test kits. Itis hands down the most complete home mold test kit on the market. Not only doesPro-Lab offer a lifetime guarantee with their report but they offer excellentcustomer support.
Pros of the Pro-Lab Mold Test Kit
- The Pro-Lab MoldTest Kit has a long list of certifications, including the American IndustrialHygiene Association.
- You can test formold in three distinct ways (air settling, surface samples, and HVAC sampling)
- Each test inthe Pro-Lab kit requires you to prepare a petri dish by pouring a mold medium,or a growth hormone, into the dish. This might sound like a con but in realityit means you are getting a really fresh kit that has not been contaminated inany way.
- Turnaround time is the fastest in the industry– only 5 days from the day the lab receives your sample.
Cons of the Pro-Lab Mold Test Kit
- The kit does notinclude dedicated sample bags to ship the petri dishes and swab back to thecompany for analysis.
- There is an extrafee for lab analysis.
Average Price of the Pro-Lab Test Kit
$6.00 but there is still the $40 labfee.
Purchase the Pro-Lab Mold TestKit Here
Immunolytics Diagnostic Mold Test Kit
Immunolytics Diagnostic Mold Test Kits offer the costefficiency of independent mold testing with the benefits of professionallaboratory analysis. Results include spore counts, mold types, a relevant moldglossary, and health risks of findings.
I have used these myself and they offer impressive resultsalong with customer support to help you determine your next steps.
Pros of the Immunolytics Diagnostic Mold Test Kit
- Easy to use
- The petri dish is ready right out of the box –no need to add solution to it
- No additional lab fees
- Quick turnaround time – 7 days or less fromthe time the lab receives your sample
- Two testing methods – surface sampling andmold air settle sampling
- Great customer service and free phone support
- Multi-packs available
- Affordable
Cons of the Immunolytics Diagnostic Mold Test Kit
- The kit is notcertified by the American Industrial Hygiene Association.
- ImmunoLyticsinstructs against HVAC sampling which is unfortunate as these systems areusually the source and carrier of mold spores.
Average Price of the Immunolytics Diagnostic Mold Test Kit
$45 for a single test. Price drops asyou order multi-packs.
Purchase the ImmunoLytics Mold Test Kit Here
Healthful Home Five Minute Mold Test
In my opinion, this is one of the besttests on the market. This test offers the fastest results on the planet. Asimplied in the name, your mold test results are ready in five minutes. How isthat possible?
This kituses a swab and two collection trays to detect mold. To begin testing for mold,you wipe the swab across dust (which you can’t do with other home mold tests)or visible mold and secure the cap. The cap is a liquid bulb that you break,which releases liquid over the collection sample. You then put five drops ofthis liquid into the collection trays, and after five minutes, the testindicates whether it detected mold or not.
One ofthe two collection trays is dedicated to detecting “black mold.” However,because the kit has such a small sample area, a negative reading on the testdoes not guarantee that mold is not growing in your house.
Pros of the Healthful Home Mold Test Kit
- Accredited by theAmerican Industrial Hygiene Association.
- Easy to use – just three quick steps
- Patented technology that makes it the mostsensitive mold test on the market
- Detects molds often missed by traditional airsettling samples
- Takes five minutes
- Can identify a wide range of molds includingsome of the most dangerous species
Cons of the Healthful Home Mold Test Kit
- Lab analysis is available but for an extrafee.
- No bags are included to submit samples to thelab
Average Price of the Healthful Home Mold TestKit
$44.99 for one home mold test kit.
Purchase the Healthful HomeMold Test Kit Here
MoldInspection Network DIY Mold Test Kit
Unlike theother tests mentioned here, the DIY Mold Test Kit relies on the tape liftmethod for mold testing. This makes in much more useful if you have visiblemold. However, it also makes it more accurate.
Basicallyyou place the tape against the area that has mold or that you suspect it hasmold. You seal it up and send it to the lab for analysis.
Pros of the Mold Inspection NetworkDIY Mold Test Kit
- Very easy to use with clearinstructions
- Affordable
- Accurate
- Fast turnaround time
- Includes three tape lift tests so youget more bang for your buck
- Detailed report with qualityinformation provided about the various types of mold spores tested for.
Cons of the Mold Inspection NetworkDIY Mold Test Kit
- Additional lab fee of $24 for residenceof Texas
- Does not give you specific counts formold
- Not as many species of mold testedalthough the most dangerous types of mold are accounted for.
- The kit is notcertified by the American Industrial Hygiene Association.
Average Price of the Mold InspectionNetwork DIY Mold Test Kit
$45 whichincludes three tests
Purchase the MoldInspection Network DIY Mold Test Kit Here
MoldCheck Mold Test Kit
This mold test and retest kit is designed to help you find the location of a source of hidden mold contamination in your home.This is a search kit.This type of kit does not identify the molds, it guides you to the source of the contamination by sampling the mold in each room.
This do-it-yourself home mold test kit contains multiple tests designed to test many rooms or test and retest several suspect rooms. The different mold colors and numbers of mold collected will allow you to easily compare and find the room with the most likely source of the mold contamination.
Pros of the MoldCheck Mold Test Kit
- These mold testing kits allow you to test the air, surfaces, AC ducts, fabrics, and an outdoor control.
- Each of the ten mold test films will support all the typical molds found growing on water-damaged wet building materials such as wood, sheet rock, insulation paper, glues and paints, etc.
- The kit contains a thoughtful-helpful mold investigation guide and a mold clean up guide.
Cons of the MoldCheck Mold Test Kit
- MoldCheck does not have a lab that analyzesthe results. They do have suggestions on where you can send your samples.
- Additional fees if you do send samples to alab.
Average Price of the MoldCheck Mold Test Kit
It runs around $49.95 for 10 tests.
Purchase the MoldCheckMold Test Kit Here
EC3 Mold Screening Test Kit
The EC3 Mold Screening Test Kit isexactly what the name implies. It is a screening tool you can use to show ifyou have a mold problem and possibly what room it is in.
Each kit contains 6 mold test platesand detailed directions to test indoor air or specific items for the presenceof mold. This form of culture testing takes just minutes to perform, and willprovide accurate, conclusive information to help protect you and your family’shealth in just 5 days. Results will confirm if mold has reached unhealthylevels with allergy and disease implications.
Pros of the EC3 Mold Screening Test Kit
- The test kit not only shows you if you have aproblem but also the severity of the problem.
- Easy to use
- Accurate
- Results in 5 days
- Clear directions
- Can be used to test the air or surface samples
Cons of the EC3 Mold Screening Test Kit
- You can’t send the mold test plates in foranalysis.
- The test only shows IF you have a problem andhow the types of mold.
- You may misinterpret the levels of mold thatgrow.
- The kit is notcertified by the American Industrial Hygiene Association.
Average Price Of The EC3 Mold Screening Test Kit
You can crab a 6 pack for $35.
Purchase the EC3Mold Screening Test Kit Here
Mold Armor Mold Test
The only reason I included this homemold test kit is because it is a very popular test and easy to find in hardwarestores. In my opinion it isn’t as good as the other tests mentioned above.
Pros of the Mold Armor Mold Test Kit
- You can test for mold in three distinctways (air settling, surface samples, and HVAC sampling)
- Mold Armor’s lab is certified monthly bythe American Industrial Hygiene Association
- Easy set up
Cons of the Mold Armor Mold Test Kit
- You have to wait several weeks before gettingyour results
- Customer service is lacking
Average Price of the Mold Armor Mold Test Kit
The kit itself is around $9.00.However there is a $40 lab fee when you send it in.
Purchase the Mold Armor MoldTest Kit Here
Other HomeMold Test Kits
While Ihaven’t personally used these mold test kits, here are a few additional optionsto check out:
If you are considering other mold testing options, please be sure to visit my mold testing page. In addition, you can learn more about mold air tests here.
Need more information on mold prevention and how to remove mold? Click those links and off you go on an information adventure.
