Biotoxin and MVOC testing
Two ways to find what a visual check cannot. MVOC air testing detects hidden mould behind walls and partitions without destructive testing, and biotoxin screening measures the toxins that mould and bacteria leave behind in a water-damaged building.
Testing for MVOCs
Microbial Volatile Organic Compound (MVOC) testing aims to facilitate the identification and detection of mould contamination.
Fungi and bacteria produce MVOCs as a byproduct of their metabolism, and many of these MVOCs cause the characteristic musty odour of mouldy environments. The presence of MVOCs in air samples taken from a building with suspected mould contamination can indicate moisture problems and the presence of hidden mould growth.
MVOCs are particularly useful for detecting mould growth behind walls and partitions because, unlike mould spores, MVOCs permeate these surfaces, providing evidence of the obscured mould without destructive testing.
Using a simple sampling procedure, results are obtained without requiring culture or incubation. NSJ EnviroSciences, in conjunction with an associated laboratory, can offer comprehensive sampling and analysis of MVOCs, plus interpretation and solutions.
Biotoxin testing
Mycotoxins are substances, called secondary metabolites, produced by moulds and fungi while they are actively growing. They are normally present in small quantities in the environment as a form of defence for the organism. These toxins are often grouped with other toxins and called biotoxins, which include bacterial and mould toxins.
If they are present in high amounts, as may occur in water-damaged buildings, they become potentially harmful to human health. Specimens from the environment (homes, workplaces, schools and so on) can be evaluated for the presence of biotoxins by our associated laboratory. The range of biotoxins currently being analysed and reported is extensive, with over 700 individual biotoxins now identifiable.
Biotoxins are produced by the growing mould or bacterial culture and are very resilient, lasting for many years. They are carried on very fine particulates that may evolve from the breakdown of the mycelial mat. These particulates can be extremely small, nanoparticulate in fact, which can bypass the cilia and deposit the biotoxins deep in the alveoli of the lungs, where they cross into the bloodstream and travel to major organs. There they can be deposited and lead to exacerbation of the innate immune system, which may lead to the multi-symptom, multi-system illness known as CIRS.
Suspect hidden mould or biotoxins?
Talk to a scientist about the right sampling approach, or browse our testing kits and get started.