Mold testing identifies whether mold is present, what species are growing, and at what concentration. Mold removal, also called mold remediation, is the physical process of containing, removing, and disposing of mold-contaminated materials. They are different services with different tools, different goals, and different outcomes.
What Mold Testing Does
Testing answers diagnostic questions: Is there mold in this space? Where is it? What kind is it? How does the indoor concentration compare to outdoor baseline levels? This is done through air sampling, surface sampling, and physical inspection using moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras.
Air samples are collected using spore trap cassettes and analyzed by an accredited third-party laboratory. The lab report tells you the species present and whether concentrations are elevated compared to the outdoor baseline. This gives you an objective, documented picture of the air quality in your home.
Mold Eliminators uses independent labs for all testing. We do not operate our own in-house laboratory because doing so creates a conflict of interest for companies that also do remediation. When the same company tests and remediates, there is a financial incentive to find a problem. An independent lab removes that incentive.
What Mold Removal Does
Once testing confirms contamination, remediation addresses it. The process follows IICRC S520 protocols and includes establishing containment barriers and negative air pressure to prevent spores from spreading, physically removing or cleaning affected materials, using HEPA-filtered air scrubbers during work, and applying antimicrobial treatments where appropriate.
Structural materials like drywall or framing that cannot be cleaned effectively are removed and replaced. Porous materials like carpeting or insulation that harbor mold are disposed of. Hard surfaces may be cleaned and treated if contamination is not too deep.
Post-Remediation Verification
After remediation is complete, post-remediation verification (PRV) testing confirms that mold levels are back within acceptable ranges before containment is removed and occupants return. This is an independent test, not a self-assessment. It is the quality control step that closes the loop and gives you documented proof that the work was effective.
Some companies skip PRV to save time or cost. We do not. It is a required step under the S520 standard, and it is the only way to objectively confirm that remediation succeeded.
To schedule testing, visit our mold testing page. To learn about our remediation process, see our mold removal page. Questions? Call (702) 442-1126.