What’s the M-TRAP®?
The M-TRAP® is a unique air sampling cassette developed specifically for the rapid capture and analysis of airborne fungi, bacteria, and viruses using state-of-the-art DNA & RNA analysis. The cassette is designed to follow a color-coded system. The blue striped M-TRAP® are labeled to capture airborne fungi and bacteria. The red striped M-TRAP® is labeled to capture airborne viruses. M-TRAP® may be connected via 1/4” tubing commonly used with air sampling pumps that are currently on the market. It is also compatible with the Buck BioAire Pump and the Zefon Bio-Pump (an adapter is required for use of the Zefon Bio Pump).
The M-TRAP® is designed to capture
Mold
The M-TRAP® embodies the next generation of capture technology for residential and occupational mold exposure assessment. It excels where spore traps and agar impactions fall short: spore capture efficiency and turnaround time. Different mold testing capabilities include:
Bacteria
Assured Bio offers a wide range of bacterial testing, from a standard total bacteria screen (Universal Bacteria) to more specific tests like MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and Legionella (causes Legionnaires’ Disease) through our primer specific PCR/DNA analysis.
Virus
The M-TRAP® is one of the few air sampling cassettes with the ability to capture both the SARS-CoV-2 and the Influenza virus. Learn more on our COVID-19 environmental testing page.
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Contact the lab to learn more about the M-TRAP®‘s testing capabilities or to make a customizable testing panel!
Email: info@assuredbio.com
Additional Info
Our lab analyzes M-TRAP samples through DNA, RNA and MSQPCR. Mold Specific Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (MSQPCR) is a variation of standard PCR analysis developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for precise detection and quantification of mold spores to species. It is capable of detecting both DNA and RNA samples. Our patented pending, biologically active capture substrate is DNA friendly and specifically designed to maximize the high-fidelity detection ability of MSQPCR. In essence, the different types of fungal DNA present in a sample are individually replicated and fluorescently tagged until a measurable amount of light is emitted. The point in time that the light emissions become measurable by a highly sensitive optics system directly correlates to the identification and quantification of the mold spores present. MSQPCR uses fluorescent probe chemistry to detect the 36 most common molds found indoors, as identified by the Healthy Homes Initiative Study conducted by the EPA and HUD. These DNA-based technology results are 99.9 percent accurate.
Three years of R&D by Assured Bio Labs has produced a novel, patented-pending breakthrough in biologically active capture substrates called Molecular Entrapment. Molecular Entrapment employs a biologically active compound that is bonded to an inert, three-dimensional fibrous substrate. An adhesive protein molecule attaches to spores that enter the substrate. The protein significantly alters a spore’s inertial properties leading to entrapment. The Molecular Entrapment substrate is enclosed in a high quality, chemical-resistant polypropylene housing. M-TRAP® eliminates the difficulties associated with mold sampling and result interpretation.
- No overloading or particle bounce
- Enhanced capture efficiency, especially for Stachybotrys
- Removes group bias with species ID of Aspergillus/Penicillium-like molds
- High-fidelity analysis reduces uncertainty of measurement
- Eliminates inter-analyst variation
M-TRAP® allows for a true outdoor to indoor species comparison. Its level of reliable detail gives the investigator a degree of insight that until now has been out of reach of the indoor air quality industry.
The M-TRAP® air sampling cassette was designed with ease of use in mind — easily transferable to anyone who routinely collects spore traps for direct examinations. M-TRAP® may be connected via ½” tubing commonly used with air sampling pumps that are currently on the market. The pump’s flow rate should be set at 15 liters per minute prior to use and the sample should be collected for 10 minutes yielding a sample volume equivalent to 150 liters of air. Resultant data interpretation is a snap: It is presented in concentrations of different species throughout the air. Just as with current direct examination technology, an outside reference sample is recommended for baseline comparison.
If you have a question concerning pricing or M-TRAP® air sampling protocol please call (865) 813-1700 or e-mail info@assuredbio.com.
M-TRAP® cassettes are manufactured in a facility certified to ISO 9001 standards and made in the USA.
Learn how to collect a sample with The WhisperCare® Continuous Air Monitoring System
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M-TRAP® Articles
Submission Form:
To request information or receive an individual quote, contact Assured Bio today. Complete this form or call toll-free at 1-866-547-1727.
M-TRAP® Accessories
Now inspectors who operate under the Zefon Bio Pump can expand into DNA & RNA air sampling by using the M-TRAP® Zefon Bio Pump Adapter.
Assured Bio Technology
M-TRAP® is a unique air sampling cassette developed specifically for the rapid capture and analysis of airborne mold spores using state-of-the-art DNA analysis
The WhisperCare® is a continuous air monitoring system designed to test facilities for mold, bacteria and viruses using DNA & RNA analysis.
The Assured Bio SARS-CoV-2 Facility Monitoring Package allows for businesses to continually monitor their facility’s air and surfaces for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The Molecular Entrapment Mask Spray contains the same patented technology used in our M-TRAP® air sampling cassettes to increase the filter efficacy all while using a hypoallergenic formula. This technology has been used in COVID ICU’S and has been proven effective in capturing the virus.
