June 2006
Mold test kits
Mold test kits are available at home centers, hardware stores, and online. But all of the kits we tested have major flaws, serious enough to earn a Not Recommended rating. If you see or smell mold, you don't need a test kit to tell you it's there. Generally, it's not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in your home, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If mold covers an area less than 10 square feet, you may be able to eliminate the problem yourself. Larger areas require a pro. For tips on spotting mold contamination, eliminating mold, and keeping it from returning, as well as information on finding a qualified remediation professional, see our report on cleaning up mold.
Not Recommended
Mold test kits are available at home centers, hardware stores, and online. But all of the kits we tested have major flaws, serious enough to earn a Not Recommended rating. If you see or smell mold, you don't need a test kit to tell you it's there. Generally, it's not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in your home, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If mold covers an area less than 10 square feet, you may be able to eliminate the problem yourself. Larger areas require a pro. For tips on spotting mold contamination, eliminating mold, and keeping it from returning, as well as information on finding a qualified remediation professional, see our report on cleaning up mold.
Not Recommended
| Name | Cost (kit plus one lab analysis)* | How you use it | Problems |
| Home Diagnostics Malt Extract Culture Plates and Air Sampler | $74 or $203 with air sampler | Comes with petri dishes filled with growth media. You put the plates on the vents of your heating or air conditioning to see if the ducts are contaminated. Or you expose the open petri dishes to room air to check if that room is contaminated with mold. But to do this, you need to buy an air sampler, which costs another $129. | Expensive, and takes a long time, an average of 23 days, for results to be returned from lab. No expiration dates on the kit; old media could affect the accuracy and reliability of the results. One unused plate came back positive for mold growth, indicating contamination at some point--not very reassuring for post-remediation use. |
| Mold Chek Mold Test Kit | $39 (includes 4 petri dishes and 4 analyses) | You pour growth media into the petri dishes. You can sample air by leaving an open petri dish in a room or you can swab surfaces. | Using unsterilized utensils or swabs increases the likelihood of contamination. Very difficult to open; kits could spill on the floor while opening package and become contaminated and useless. No expiration dates on the kit; old media could affect the accuracy and reliability of the results. Label claims kit can identify toxic mold, but the report that the lab sends can't tell you this. One unused plate came back positive for mold growth, indicating contamination at some point; not very reassuring for post-remediation use. |
| Mold Chek Sampling Kit | $39 to $49 | Sampling kit is attached to vacuum. Then you vacuum entire house, room by room, in an "X" pattern. | Kit fits on most but not all vacuums. If you vacuum more than one area or room per sample kit, then you won't know which area has a mold problem. Label claims that kit can tell you if toxic mold is "hiding in your house." But brochure inside the kit has a disclaimer saying the lab report can't tell you this. |
| Pro-Lab MO109 | $40 to $55 | You pour growth media into the petri dishes. You can sample air by leaving an open petri dish in a room or on vents of ductwork, or you can swab surfaces. | In some samples, the vials with media leaked over entire kit. In one, an unopened kit was moldy. No expiration dates on the kit; old media could affect the accuracy and reliability of the results. Label claims that kit can identify toxic mold, but the report the lab sends can't tell you this. One unused plate came back positive for mold growth, indicating contamination at some point; not very reassuring for post-remediation use. |
