Assessing your homes health risk through testing:
Start Here:
Before we can even begin to create a healthy home (or fix a suspected mold issue), the 1st step is to evaluate your home’s health risk.
The most accurate & telling data is collected by screening the dust for fungal presence &/or the toxin burden (mycotoxin/endotoxin) within your home or space. Our Mold Testing Catalog carries the most technologically-advanced testing methods available to help you begin to move the needle (of the home health timeline) without having to hire any inspectors or remediation companies yet.
Q: What test do I start with?
A: If you are a holistic homeowner or renter whose primary focus is health we recommend starting with the ERMI Mold Test.
The ERMI Mold Test is a comprehensive test that uses your house dust to gauge the level of mold within your home or selected space. The ERMI can provide us with a starting baseline of data to begin measuring if your home has a mold issue.
Understanding the diversity of molds at the species level can also help us identify those molds that are more likely to produce harmful mycotoxins, which can have a negative impact on human health.
With the right consultant interpreting the data in the ERMI, you can also get answers to some of these more common questions:
Q: How do I do the ERMI Mold Test?
We got you covered.
Included in every ERMI Mold testing kit are very detailed & clear instructions on taking a dust sample.
This includes how to take a proper dust sample, along with examples & recommendations on where to collect your samples, and where NOT too. If you want to see us in action, check out our Instagram highlights—we actually do an ERMI on video!
Q: Why do we look in the dust?
A: Mold spores and tiny fragments of mold colonies attach to dust, and use dust as a means to travel all throughout your house. By sampling the dust, we can begin to measure and evaluate exactly what you and your family are inhaling, absorbing into your skin, and have been historically exposed to.
Q: Can I read the ERMI MOLD TEST results MYSELF?
Our #1 job here at PJ Harlow Wellness is to provide our clients with confidence— so they feel empowered & fully informed when making decisions regarding their health, their family’s health and their home’s unique health. We don’t believe in fear campaigns, and we don’t believe in sugar coating the situation either, we take a holistic and pragmatic approach when consulting our clients as they move through the phases of the home health timeline.
So, will you be able to read the ERMI results?
You may be able to recognize elevations, but a true ERMI Interpretation requires years of experience and education. To truly get the value out of the ERMI Mold Test, you really need an experienced professional to decipher the results. This means whoever is helping you will need extensive knowledge of each 36 species, including the common health effects of any molds present or elevated, notable behaviors and more typical growth locations.
The ERMI is a sophisticated, professional-grade, environmental DNA dust test that is extremely complex. The “score” (aka the index) is not something we use here, since it was created for a different form of usage and realistically isn’t an accurate form of measurement when utilized for gauging your home’s risk. If you are just starting out, it’s really critical to have a guide/consultant who is educated & trained in Building Science, Microbiology, Indoor Environmental & Microbial Investigation, Remediation, Decontamination, Cross Contamination, Water Damage and MSQPCR laboratory testing to help you interpret the results, and even more importantly, guide you through the next steps.
Q: Can I wait to get my results, & THEN book an interpretation session?
A: We do not recommend waiting for your test results to get back before reserving an appointment. We often receive frantic emails from individuals who miscalculated and thought they would be able to understand their results and be able to gauge what to do next. We don’t want anyone to feel stressed out and confused, however we do want you to know up front that the ERMI is not a traditional style test result, and the scores & elevations are not user friendly, so please take our claims seriously. They are recommended specifically to benefit you.
Please note: Our calendar is commonly booked 4-6+ weeks. It is worth the wait. If you need it sooner, we also offer urgent interpretation sessions each Sunday. Please note: these are commonly booked quickly in advance as well. We suggest booking ahead of time.
Q: What other tests should I consider?
A: We offer a variety of mold and mycotoxin testing kits in addition to the ERMI Test. Most of these are not something we would recommend if you are just starting and haven’t met with us to consult yet, but we like to provide the option to customize your testing strategy for anyone interested in other forms of environmental home testing like our sterile Mycotoxin Home Kits, which are especially fitting if an occupant is symptomatic and in need of data to help them determine their personalized decontamination plan. We always suggest starting with the ERMI at a minimum, as it’s the most comprehensive, providing the best form of screening data for gauging a home’s health risk.
Q: How do I book an ERMI Interpretation session w/ PJ?
A: Click the “work with us” tab or the boxes right below. You can purchase our ERMI + Interpretation Package (cheaper), or you can purchase each separately. Many clients will purchase an ERMI and then book an Urgent Consult to get in sooner.
Q: Can I book a session if I already did an ERMI test?
A: Absolutely. Link below or visit our work with us page up top to book an interpretation session.
