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PJ Harlow Wellness

Holistic Mold Consulting

FAQ

The ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index) is a dust test that uses DNA to detect 36 species of mold in your home. It was originally created by the EPA as part of a research project to develop a “moldiness scale” for buildings by measuring fungal DNA in vacuum dust. We do it a little differently. We use a microfiber Swiffer cloth to collect samples from specific areas in your home.
DNA testing like this is used in all kinds of fields from COVID testing to cancer diagnostics, GMO detection, and even as the gold standard for gene expression. We are using it to take a look at your home’s fungal biome by looking at those 36 mold species to see if things look balanced or if it is time to bring in someone on site for a closer look.
The ERMI has its critics, and we get why. First, the EPA never meant for this test to be something homeowners could buy online to read alone and use to make major decisions. Second, the numbers can be extremely misleading without proper context. Cleaning habits, outdoor conditions, climate, and many other factors can all skew results. That is why we never look at the numbers in isolation and why we never use the score at all.
When you receive your results, the lab report will include:
1. The original ERMI chart and score (created by the EPA for research purposes, although we do NOT use this score in our interpretation)
2. A HERTSMI-2 chart and score (five molds linked to CIRS: Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome)
3. Our professional interpretation of the full 36-mold dataset
Molds the ERMI Tests For (36):
Group 1: Water-damage indicator molds:
1. Aspergillus flavus
2. Aspergillus fumigatus
3. Aspergillus niger
4. Aspergillus ochraceus
5. Aspergillus penicillioides
6. Aspergillus restrictus
7. Aspergillus sclerotiorum
8. Aspergillus sydowii
9. Aspergillus unguis
10. Aspergillus versicolor
11. Aureobasidium pullulans
12. Chaetomium globosum
13. Cladosporium sphaerospermum
14. Eurotium (Aspergillus) amstelodami
15. Paecilomyces variotii
16. Penicillium brevicompactum
17. Penicillium corylophilum
18. Penicillium crustosum
19. Penicillium purpurogenum
20. Penicillium spinulosum
21. Penicillium variabile
22. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis
23. Scopulariopsis chartarum
24. Stachybotrys chartarum
25. Trichoderma viride
26. Wallemia sebi
Group 2: Common outdoor molds:
27. Acremonium strictum
28. Alternaria alternata
29. Aspergillus ustus
30. Cladosporium cladosporioides type 1
31. Cladosporium cladosporioides type 2
32. Cladosporium herbarum
33. Epicoccum nigrum
34. Mucor amphibiorum
35. Penicillium chrysogenum
36. Rhizopus stolonifer
One test is usually enough, since we collect dust from all living areas to get a representative picture.
That said, in larger homes (around 4,000–5,000 square feet or more) or multi-level properties, some people choose to “zone” their testing. For example, they might test the first floor and second floor separately, or test the basement on its own, whether it’s finished or unfinished. This can give more detailed data about how different parts of the home compare.
If you do decide to run two tests for the same property, you only need one interpretation from us. Many clients with larger homes choose this route for extra clarity, but it’s not a requirement.
No, and here’s why.
This test analyzes mold DNA in settled dust, not what’s floating in the air right now. That dust gives us a long-term view of your home’s microbial activity, reflecting past leaks, seasonal changes, HVAC patterns, and contamination you might not even know about.
When people clean and wait 4–6 wks to collect “fresh” dust, they risk missing critical exposure history. Unless your symptoms started in that same short window, fresh dust doesn’t reflect what your body’s been reacting to.
Many cases of mold-related illness stem from chronic exposure to fragments, toxins and spores from old or hidden sources, not always recent growth.
So no, don’t deep clean. This isn’t the time to scrub baseboards or go hard on dusting. Just live normally and collect from your regular living areas… don’t overthink it. (We will instruct you with all the details)
The dust that’s already there holds the history we need to understand what’s really going on.
No, ERMI or ERMI Plus doesn’t identify where the mold is growing. It’s not a source-locating tool.
Instead, it helps us understand whether there’s enough mold exposure in the home, past or present, to warrant further investigation. It gives us context for your symptoms, your space, and your history, so we can determine if Phase 2 (like hiring an inspector) is necessary.
Think of it as a first layer of intelligence, it helps us assess risk, not diagnose locations.
To use it properly, we always interpret it alongside your intake, symptoms, home details, and goals. Without that context, it’s just numbers on a page.
In short, no.
You will receive a copy of your results if you choose, but most of our clients (about 95%) prefer for us to HOLD their results until the interpretation session. Why? Because the report can be intimidating and, frankly, misleading if read without context.
Think of it like getting a complex medical lab back from your doctor. If you saw areas highlighted in red, your first reaction might be panic, assuming high means bad & low means good. But with DNA dust testing, that is not exactly how it works.
This type of testing requires context, which is why we have to talk with you before you act on the results. It is important for us to understand your symptoms and how they connect to:
1. Your health history & current symptoms
2. Your climate & home maintenance habits
3. Past water damage, renovations, fogging treatments or remediation
4. Cleaning practices
5. HVAC details
6. How the sample was collected & from where
7. Your susceptibility & sensitivity levels
Without this context, numbers alone are meaningless and often dangerous.
The lab report includes color coding to show 10 times, 100 times, & 1,000 times differences between species counts. But even those differences still mean nothing without the full story. When people make decisions based only on the numbers, this is where the controversy around this type of test comes from. Many end up overwhelmed, misinformed, and making fear-based choices that cause more harm than good.
This is why most clients let us hold the results until we can walk through them together. You always have the option to receive them directly, but our interpretation session ensures you understand exactly what the results mean, and what they do not, before taking action.
We don’t typically recommend it, and here’s why:
This test isn’t meant to find mold. It’s meant to screen your whole home’s fungal fingerprint and see if something’s off, like abnormal levels of water-damage molds.
If you test just one room, you lose the big picture. Mold fragments and microbial byproducts travel. So testing one area (especially one you’re worried about) gives you a skewed view, and may lead you down the wrong path.
This test is too valuable (and too pricey) to use for guesswork. If Phase 1 shows a problem, that’s when we move to Phase 1: targeted inspection, more testing, or deeper investigation.
The ERMI, also called the DNA Dust Test, looks for 36 specific molds in your home’s dust. The HERTSMI focuses on just 5 of those 36 molds:
• Aspergillus penicillioides
• Aspergillus versicolor
• Chaetomium globosum
• Stachybotrys chartarum
• Wallemia sebi
The HERTSMI was created by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker to help identify environments that may trigger Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). These 5 molds were chosen because they are especially inflammatory for people with this condition.
When you order a DNA Dust Test, your lab report will include both the full 36-mold data and a separate HERTSMI score. We go over both during your interpretation session so you understand exactly what they mean for your home and health.
While it is technically possible to order a HERTSMI-only test, it is so rare that we do not even offer it as an option. Yes, it is cheaper to test for just those molds, but we believe it is a disservice because it leaves out critical information. We need the other molds, including common indoor species, as a control to understand the bigger picture, especially when we are using this test in the off-label way we do.
Yes, basically. But here’s the nuance:
“ERMI” is actually not the test itself, it’s a scoring scale (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index). The real test behind the scenes is called MSQPCR, which detects mold DNA in dust.
So when we say “dust testing”, we’re just talking about the format: collecting dust via a swiffer cloth, instead of air testing or swab samples.
Different companies that sell this type of testing may add their own twist to the name or to the types of molds, bacteria or toxins included. Some include mycotoxins, others add bonus molds (like our ERMI Plus+). They may call the test different names, but under the hood, all of them are still using the same core DNA method and the same original 36 molds.
Definitely, which is why we send crystal-clear directions, written by our founders PJ and Peter Harlow. They’re simple to follow but professionally precise.
Some labs give overly dumbed-down instructions to avoid user error, but that can backfire. It doesn’t just lead to poor data, it can actually spike your results or skew them low depending on what’s interfering.
Here’s what to avoid near your sampling spot before testing:
- Bleach or chlorine products
- Rust or iron oxide dust
- Essential oils (especially tea tree)
- Paints, clay, or gypsum dust
- Urine, blood, or heavy oils
- Not Enough Dust: These tests require a minimum amount of fine dust (not hair or lint). If your sample has too little, the lab may not be able to run it, or you’ll get underreported results.
- Testing actual Mold
- Sampling from a New Construction
- Using this testing for PRV/Post testing or sampling a home that was just remediated
And remember, location matters. Sampling the wrong area can downplay a serious problem or exaggerate a minor one. That’s why our protocol walks you through exactly where and how to collect, so you get clear, usable results.
No. ERMI detects the DNA of molds present in your dust sample, but it can’t tell you which ones are living, dead, or dormant.
That might sound like a limitation, but in reality, health symptoms aren’t just caused by living mold. Much of what affects sensitive individuals are fragments, toxins, and residue left behind by mold that’s no longer alive, or may never have been alive to begin with (like mycotoxins).
ERMI gives us a total exposure snapshot, not just a viability report.
It tells us which molds are present in the home environment, regardless of their growth stage, so we can evaluate overall contamination levels, how those molds may be affecting your health and whether there’s enough exposure to warrant an inspection.
Not at all. We hear this all the time. Unfortunately, many people are told, “You’re fine, your air test was clear,” and they move on, only to keep struggling with symptoms for years before circling back to mold.
Here’s the truth: air testing is not designed to assess health exposure. It only shows what’s floating in the air at that moment, not what’s settled, hidden, or fragmented.
It misses:
1. Mold fragments (often more inflammatory than spores)
2. Heavy, sticky spores like Stachybotrys
3. The species of mold (which matters for toxicity and risk)
It’s not a bad test, it’s just the wrong tool for the job. That’s why we start with DNA dust testing. It looks deeper, tells a longer story, and helps us assess what your body’s really been exposed to.
We know the “under 2” or “under this number” rules get thrown around a lot, but it’s a terrible standard. After reviewing thousands of ERMI reports, we can confidently say: lone numbers tell you very little.
Here’s why:
The ERMI score was developed by the EPA as a research tool, not a medical benchmark. It’s based on a specific vacuum sampling method and a scoring index (a table ranking homes by relative moldiness). But most people today are using cloths or Swiffer-style methods to collect samples—so the results don’t match how the original index was designed. It’s not apples to apples.
So when someone grabs a wipe sample, plugs it into the old EPA scoring table, and says, “You need to be under 2 to heal,” they’re misusing the test. That score can’t be applied universally like that.
What matters far more than the score is which molds show up, how much DNA is present, what your health picture looks like, and how the test was collected.
Bottom line?
That “under 2” number isn’t magic, and if someone’s using it as your mold healing threshold, they may mean well, but it’s not the full picture. You deserve a more thoughtful individualized approach. Healing is personal, and interpreting this test should be too. I have worked with some women that react to a speck of mold, and some men that don’t feel ANYTHING in a dungeon. That’s why we always recommend working with someone who understands the nuances and can look at your whole situation, not just a single number.
The ERMI (DNA Dust Test) screens for 36 specific molds in household dust, including many common indoor molds we use as controls to understand overall home health.
The EMMA (Environmental Mold & Mycotoxin Assessment) was developed in 2019. It tests for 12 molds considered “highly toxigenic” and 16 harmful mycotoxins. While it may sound appealing to combine mold and mycotoxin testing, we find it too limited as a first step in most cases where the goal is to decide whether to move forward with a full on-site inspection or determine a larger investigative plan. In those early “information gathering” stages, 12 molds just doesn’t give us the scope we need, especially compared to how we can work with the broader ERMI data.
Molds Detected by EMMA
The test typically screens for up to 12 of the most toxigenic mold species, including:
1. Aspergillus fumigatus
2. Aspergillus ochraceus
3. Aspergillus flavus
4. Aspergillus terreus
5. Aspergillus niger
6. Aspergillus versicolor
7. Penicillium brevicompactum
8. Penicillium chrysogenum
9. Chaetomium globosum
10. Stachybotrys chartarum
11. Fusarium solani
12. Candida auris
Mycotoxins Screened by EMMA
EMMA directly tests for a broad panel of up to 16 mycotoxins, which includes:
1. Ochratoxin A
2. Zearalenone
3. Aflatoxin B1, G1, G2, B2
4. Verrucarin A, J
5. Roridin H, A, L-2, E
6. Isosatratoxin F
7. Gliotoxin
8. Satratoxin G, H

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