Mold & indoor air quality testing · Central Florida

Mold testing & indoor air quality testing in Florida.

From the cassette to the lab report: every test PureSpec performs, explained in plain English. What it is, when it is recommended, what it reveals, how it is performed. Founder-performed across Central Florida by Daniel Melendez, a microbiologist, with every sample shipped to an AIHA-LAP accredited laboratory under chain of custody.

What is mold testing?

Mold testing is the laboratory analysis of air, surface, or dust samples collected from a building. Laboratory analysis identifies the mold types detected in the collected samples, with the level of identification determined by the analytical method, and measures their concentration. Common methods include calibrated spore-trap air sampling with an outdoor reference, surface tape-lift or swab sampling on visible growth, and settled-dust DNA panels (ERMI, HERTSMI-2). At PureSpec, every sample ships under chain of custody to an AIHA-LAP accredited laboratory and is interpreted by a microbiologist in a written report. Each method answers a different question. Air describes conditions at the moment of sampling, a surface sample characterizes the material collected from a specific patch, and settled dust describes what has accumulated over time, which is why the right test depends on what you are trying to find out. Sampling without an inspection behind it usually produces a measurement with no explanation attached to it.

Sampling methods

How we collect the data on site.

The three sampling techniques that run on most PureSpec inspections. Air capture for what the space is releasing. Cavity sampling for what hides behind drywall. Swabs for what you can see.

M / 01

Air Testing

Quantitative spore counts from the air your clients actually breathe.

Air-O-Cell cassettes pull seventy-five liters of indoor air through a microscope-ready slide, capturing whatever is currently airborne. Each sample takes five minutes on site. The slides ship under chain of custody to an AIHA-LAP accredited laboratory, where analysts quantify and identify spore types under direct microscopy.

When recommended

Persistent indoor air quality complaints with no visible source
Post-water-loss verification or insurance documentation
Health-driven concerns referred from a treating physician

What it reveals

Total spore concentration in spores per cubic meter
The mold types counted, reported at the level the method supports
The indoor result read against a same-day outdoor reference

How we perform it

One sample per room of concern plus one outdoor baseline
HVAC cycled appropriately during sampling for accuracy
Lab results returned within 2 to 5 business days

Air-O-Cell cassette · Direct microscopy · 2 to 5 day turnaround

M / 02

Wall Cavity Sampling

What is behind the drywall, without opening it.

A discreet quarter-inch port at the base of the suspect wall, with a sealed sampling tube extending into the cavity. An Air-O-Cell captures whatever the cavity is releasing during a measured draw. The small port stays open for follow-up access if remediation is later required. Documents conditions behind drywall before any decision to demo.

When recommended

Visible water staining without an exterior breach
Musty odor from a wall with no surface evidence
Pre-demolition documentation for insurance scope

What it reveals

Whether the cavity has active fungal growth
Spore types specific to the concealed environment
Quantitative comparison with the adjacent ambient air

How we perform it

Small port drilled at the suspect wall section
Sterile cavity probe with measured volume draw
Port left open for any follow-up remediation access

Sealed cavity probe · Air-O-Cell capture · 2 to 5 day turnaround

M / 03

Surface Testing

Identify exactly what is growing on the surface.

A sterile cotton swab passed over visible colonies, sealed in a transport tube under chain of custody, analyzed at an AIHA-LAP laboratory. Laboratory analysis identifies the mold types present, at the level the selected method supports, replacing "looks like mold" with documented identification.

When recommended

A visible discolored area suspected to be microbial growth
Documenting a suspect surface within a defined scope of work
Distinguishing mold from dust, dirt, or substrate staining

What it reveals

Whether the visible material is actually fungal
The mold types present, at the level the analytical method supports
Whether the surface is currently sporulating (active growth)

How we perform it

Sterile swab passed over the visible colony
Sealed transport tube logged under chain of custody
AIHA-LAP lab analysis with direct microscopy

Sterile swab · Direct microscopy and culture · 2 to 5 day turnaround

Specialty testing

When a question needs the lab.

Seven lab-driven specialty tests for chronic inflammatory response patients, post-flood properties, new-construction off-gassing, and water-damaged buildings. Each answers a distinct question that direct microscopy cannot.

S / 01

ERMI Mold Testing

36 indicator mold species, quantified by DNA.

Environmental Relative Moldiness Index. A single settled-dust sample is analyzed by quantitative PCR for 36 indicator mold species. The result is compared against the EPA national reference database to produce a moldiness score representing the indoor environment's microbial fingerprint.

When recommended

Referred by a healthcare provider for CIRS workup
Post-remediation comparison against pre-remediation baseline
Environmental sensitivity that traditional air sampling missed

What it reveals

Score relative to the EPA national distribution
Species breakdown across 36 indicator molds
Results that describe the settled dust collected; EPA states ERMI has been peer-reviewed for research purposes but not validated for non-research use

How we perform it

Single settled-dust collection from agreed surfaces
Sealed shipment to an ERMI-licensed laboratory
Score and species breakdown returned in 7 to 10 days

Settled-dust qPCR · 36 indicator species · 7 to 10 day turnaround

Full ERMI testing service page

S / 02

Mycotoxin Testing

The toxins themselves, not just the spores.

Mycotoxins are the secondary metabolites certain mold species produce, the compounds that can affect human health. PureSpec offers three distinct methods: EMMA (dust collection, Realtime Labs), AMEA (air sampling, Respirare Labs), and MESA (surface swab, Respirare Labs). Each answers a different question. The full method-by-method breakdown lives on the dedicated mycotoxin service page.

When recommended

Persistent symptoms despite low spore counts
Healthcare provider requesting a mycotoxin profile
Post-CIRS or MCAS workup in progress

What it reveals

Which specific mycotoxins are present
Concentration in parts per billion
Indication of past or ongoing mold metabolism

How we perform it

Air or HVAC dust collection at agreed locations
Sealed shipment to an ELISA-capable laboratory
Quantified report with provider-readable breakdown

Air or dust · Competitive ELISA · 7 to 10 day turnaround

Full Mycotoxin testing service page

S / 03

HERTSMI-2 Mold Testing

ERMI focused to five high-relevance species.

HERTSMI-2 (Health Effects Roster of Type-Specific Formers of Mycotoxins and Inflammagens) tracks five indicator species from the ERMI panel. Same dust-sample qPCR methodology, narrower interpretive scope. Some CIRS providers request it by name, and it is used in before-and-after comparisons. The score is an environmental result, not a clinical finding.

When recommended

CIRS or MCAS provider requesting HERTSMI-2 specifically
Pre- and post-remediation comparison on a tight species panel
When ERMI is more than needed but qPCR confirmation is wanted

What it reveals

Score from five high-relevance indicator species
A score that describes the settled dust collected, not a decision about a person or a building

How we perform it

Settled-dust sample (same collection as ERMI)
qPCR analysis at the same accredited laboratory
Score returned in 7 to 10 days

Settled-dust qPCR · 5 indicator species · 7 to 10 day turnaround

Full HERTSMI-2 testing service page

S / 04

VOC Testing

Off-gassing chemicals, profiled and quantified.

Volatile organic compounds are airborne carbon-based chemicals released by cleaning products, paints, finishes, off-gassing furniture, combustion, and certain microbial activity. Active air sampling captures a representative volume; the lab returns a quantified compound-by-compound profile for the indoor environment.

When recommended

Persistent chemical odors with no identified source
Post-renovation or new-construction off-gassing assessment
Indoor air quality complaints with low spore counts

What it reveals

The specific VOCs present in indoor air
Concentrations relative to baseline thresholds
Whether sources are likely biological or product-related

How we perform it

Active sorbent-tube or thermal-desorption sampling
Sealed shipment to an AIHA-LAP accredited laboratory
Compound profile returned in 5 to 7 days

Active air sampling · Quantified lab profile · 5 to 7 day turnaround

Full VOC testing service page

S / 05

Formaldehyde Testing

New-build, new-cabinet, and renovation off-gassing, measured.

Formaldehyde off-gasses from many engineered woods, foam insulation, certain cabinetry, new flooring, and resin-based products. Active air sampling over a measured time captures the indoor concentration; the lab returns a quantified result in parts per billion of air.

When recommended

Recently completed renovation or new construction
New cabinetry, flooring, or engineered wood installation
Sensitization symptoms in a recently changed environment

What it reveals

Indoor formaldehyde concentration in parts per billion
Whether levels are within or above guidance thresholds
A baseline for comparison after off-gassing ventilation

How we perform it

Time-weighted active air sampling on a TD tube
Sealed shipment to an AIHA-LAP accredited laboratory
Quantified result returned in 5 to 7 days

Active air sampling · Parts-per-billion quantification · 5 to 7 day turnaround

Full Formaldehyde testing service page

S / 06

Endotoxin Testing

The bacterial cell-wall signature, alongside the mold data.

Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharide fragments from the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria. They are not bacteria themselves but a persistent signature of past bacterial activity, often a complementary signal alongside mold testing in water-damaged or chronically humid environments.

When recommended

Post-flood or post-sewage environmental assessment
Persistent inflammation not explained by mold alone
Water-damaged building investigation requested by a provider

What it reveals

Quantified endotoxin units per sample
Likely bacterial activity history of the environment
A complementary marker alongside spore and mycotoxin data

How we perform it

Settled dust or water sampling depending on the question
Sealed shipment to an LAL-assay capable laboratory
Quantified result returned in 7 to 10 days

Dust or water · LAL kinetic chromogenic assay · 7 to 10 day turnaround

Full Endotoxin testing service page

S / 07

Pathways™ Testing

Protein-level mapping of how mold contamination moves through a building.

Pathways™ uses peptide-bond protein detection on microfiber swabs collected at building perimeters and transition points to map how mold contamination is actually traveling through a structure. Where traditional sampling tells you what is present, Pathways™ tells you the route by which it is moving. Daniel is a Certified Pathways™ Technician.

When recommended

Complex environment with conflicting prior sample results
CIRS or MCAS workup requiring pathway mapping
Post-water-loss verification or pre-purchase due diligence

What it reveals

The protein signature of mold along building pathways
Whether contamination is contained or actively migrating
A directional map for targeted remediation scope

How we perform it

Microfiber swabs at perimeter and transition points
Sealed shipment to a Pathways™ certified laboratory
Mapped report with pathway diagrams in 10 to 14 days

Microfiber perimeter swabs · Peptide-bond protein assay · 10 to 14 day turnaround

Full Pathways testing service page

Every testing service

Which test answers which question.

Mold testing
Air, surface and wall-cavity sampling analyzed by an accredited laboratory. The starting point when the question is whether mold is present and where.
Indoor air quality testing
Broader than mold: particulates, carbon dioxide, and chemical off-gassing, for buildings where the complaint is the air itself rather than visible growth.
Allergen testing
Laboratory identification of pollen and other biological and nonbiological particles in collected air samples.
ATP environmental screening
Rapid on-site measurement of biological residue on surfaces, useful for verifying cleaning.
Legionella water testing
Building water systems, cooling towers and plumbing, by culture, qPCR or viability PCR.
Storm and flood damage inspection
Post-event assessment when water entered the building envelope.

Air, surface, and settled dust: what each one answers.

Three different questions, three different sample types. None of them is a substitute for the other two, and none of them produces a pass or fail number.

Method	Best question	What it measures	Strength	Important limit
Air spore trap	What airborne spore-type profile was present at this location during the sample?	Nonviable airborne particles and spore types in a measured air volume	Useful for spatial comparison and indoor/outdoor context	Short-duration snapshot. It does not identify a hidden source, viability, or universal pass/fail status.
Surface tape or swab	Is fungal material present on this specific sampled surface?	Material collected from a defined surface area and location	Useful for confirming a localized suspect surface	Represents only the sampled spot. Taxonomic resolution depends on method and laboratory.
Settled dust, DNA-based panel	What fungal DNA profile is represented in accumulated dust under this method?	Method-specific DNA targets in collected settled dust	Captures a longer integration period than a short air sample	Does not measure current airborne concentration or identify the physical source location by itself.

FAQ

Questions clients ask before booking.

Short, direct answers to the most common questions about environmental testing in Florida.

Which sampling method do I need?

It depends on what you are trying to confirm. If you have visible growth, a surface sample identifies the mold types present. If the air smells musty without a visible source, an air sample documents what is currently airborne. If a wall is suspect but you do not want to demo first, a sealed wall-cavity sample documents what is behind the drywall. Most full inspections use a mix of all three.

Do I need air testing if I already had surface testing?

Often, yes. A swab identifies what is growing on a specific surface; an air sample tells you whether spores from that growth, or from a hidden source, are circulating into the rooms you actually breathe in. They answer different questions, and together they are almost always more informative than either alone.

How long do lab results take?

Direct-microscopy methods (air, wall cavity, surface) return results in two to five business days after the lab receives the samples. DNA-based methods (ERMI, HERTSMI-2) and specialty assays (mycotoxin, VOC, formaldehyde, endotoxin) typically take seven to fourteen business days depending on the laboratory. Pathways™ is usually faster, generally about a week, with a rush option available.

What is the difference between ERMI and HERTSMI-2?

Both are settled-dust qPCR tests run at the same labs using the same methodology. ERMI tracks 36 indicator mold species and produces a moldiness score relative to the EPA national reference database. HERTSMI-2 is a narrower five-species subset weighted into a score commonly used in CIRS workups. Many providers request one or the other specifically.

Do you perform mold remediation?

No. Section 468.8419 places project-specific restrictions on assessors and remediators working on the same structure within specified 12-month periods, subject to statutory exceptions. PureSpec is assessment-only, which preserves independence. After an inspection, you hire a remediation contractor separately. If remediation is needed, PureSpec can develop a written remediation protocol for the contractor to follow.

Will my insurance pay for environmental testing?

That depends on your policy and the loss event. PureSpec writes reports formatted for insurance documentation, including environmental conditions, sample locations, chain-of-custody records, and laboratory findings. We do not handle the claim itself.

How do I prepare for the inspection?

Keep windows and exterior doors closed for the 24 hours before the appointment, turn off air purifiers and HVAC UV systems, skip deep cleaning or vacuuming, and avoid candles, plug-ins, and fragrances. Secure pets in a separate area and clear access to suspect walls, HVAC closets, and attics. Your booking confirmation email includes a short preparation film with the full checklist.

Book your inspection

Talk to Daniel about which tests fit your situation.

Every inspection starts with a real conversation. Most appointments are scheduled within 48 hours.

Call (321) 324-7756 Book online

Standard coverage includes Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola and Polk counties. For properties outside these counties, contact PureSpec for a written quote before booking. Any travel charge is disclosed in your written quote.