Introducing

The Analysis that Makes DNA Accuracy Affordable for Everyday Use

We are excited to roll out the Big 2 analysis as a way to make DNA accuracy affordable to the average home inspector. You may have seen this option on our new Chain of Custody and we wanted to take some time to introduce you to this new, exciting service we are offering. This analysis uses the same cutting edge MSQPCR technology (Mold Specific Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) as the EPA’s ERMI analysis but at a greatly reduced price. We can do this by focusing in on the two main groups of concern for most common water intrusion, and health concern, molds: Stachybotrys chartarum and Penicillium/Aspergillus* species. Here at Assured Bio Labs, we can detect as few as 1 Stachybotrys and 3 Penicillium/Aspergillus spores. We have been working to develop this new test by combining our Mold Self Test and M-TRAP® to provide this new technology available only at Assured Bio Labs.

Our patented M-TRAP® technology is a game changer in the world of Indoor Air Quality. Using our proprietary spore capture solution applied to the M-TRAP®’s filter we can increase spore capture efficiency by 95-99% compared to traditional inertial impact spore trap cassettes (Micro-5®, AllergencoD®, Air-o-Cell®, etc). With the use of a reusable adaptor, our cassette is compatible but all the standard IAQ pumps. The M-TRAP® has been independently validated by CDC NIOSH and has been used by Columbia University, University Hospitals in Cleveland, and University of Nevada School of Medicine as well as by many of our Home Inspector and Industrial Hygienist clients in residential, commercial, medical, and industrial properties. The M-TRAP® can also be used for a variety of viable airborne analyses including fungal and bacterial colony counts, MRSA, Legionella, and has even been shown to capture virus particles. It also eliminates the problem of low capture of Stachybotrys on inertial impact cassettes. Of course, we will continue to offer out Survey of Indoor Airborne Molds (SIAM) analysis testing for the full 36 assay ERMI panel. We can also customize panels for any subset of the 36 assay panel. More information is available at https://assuredbio.com/mtrap/.

The versatility of the Big 2 analysis can be used to cut costs since it makes collecting reliable composite air samples easy and affordable. We have successfully pulled an M-TRAP® sample outdoors for 24 hours without overloading the sample. This means that you may composite multiple sample locations per M-TRAP, per property, for thorough sampling while saving money. It’s simple; just collect the sample for 10 minutes at 15 L/min in each room and record the number of rooms in order to calculate the total volume collected for documentation on the Chain of Custody. By testing for the DNA from Penicillium/Aspergillus species we no longer have the “Penicillium/Aspergillus like” category of the standard direct examination, which can obscure comparison of indoor and outdoor molds. This bias can cause an indoor air environment to mistakenly appear balanced due to a high count of impostor spores in the outdoor sample which are not true Penicillium/Aspergillus but cannot be distinguished microscopically. You will receive an easy to read, PDF report outlining the spores per cubic meter of air within 24-72 hours of receipt.

The Big 2 analysis can be performed on both our DNA swabs and our M-TRAPs®

The Big 2 panel can also be easily utilized in a surface swab sample. In collecting a surface swab sample for Big 2 analysis, the inspector will simply swab locations throughout a home that DO NOT exhibit suspected visible mold growth. These locations, referred to as “dust reservoirs”, are places like behind a television, on top of door & window frames, or anywhere else that might not be regularly cleaned. Areas with dust deposits, or dust reservoirs, are key to the assessment of a current or previous indoor mold issue because for the duration of the mold issue, spores are being archived into the dust. Results rendered from analysis of a composite Big 2 swab can be used to quickly screen a home for previous water intrusion related molds, and also to assess the amount of surface cleaning and HEPA vacuuming needed to eliminate mold spore buildup on contents during a mold remediation.

We hope you will find the Big 2 analysis a cost effective and valuable addition to your mold testing offerings. Contact us through email or phone call to order your Big 2 Analysis.

Email: info@assuredbio.com

Toll Free Phone Number: 1-866-547-1727

Purchase the Big 2 Mold Testing Kit

 

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