The ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index) is a dust test that uses MSQPCR (mold specific quantitative DNA) to detect 36 species of mold in your home.

It was originally created by the EPA as part of a research project. They were trying to develop a "moldiness scale" for buildings by measuring fungal DNA in dust collected via vacuum cleaner.

Today, when this test is recommended by practitioners, doctors, and health-focused consultants, it's done a little differently. A microfiber Swiffer cloth collects samples from specific areas in the home instead.

PCR testing in general is used in all kinds of fields, from COVID testing to cancer diagnostics to GMO detection. So the methodology itself is trusted science.

But there are things that can skew the results. Cleaning habits, chemical use, and how you sample all matter.

And then there's context. Your health, your sensitivities, your susceptibility. These don't change what the test finds, but they shape what we do with that information.
This is exactly why we require a forensic review with every test. You'll never just get a lab report and be left to figure it out. We look at your results alongside your home, your history, and your health to start building your case. This is where working with us begins, so you're ready if an inspection is actually needed.

When you receive your results, the lab report will include:

1. The raw data showing spore counts per milligram of dust, plus the ERMI score. The EPA created this score for research purposes, and we do NOT use it in our forensic review.

2. A HERTSMI-2 score, which focuses on five specific molds linked to CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome).

3. Our professional forensic review 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

No. And we don't say that to gatekeep. We say it because self-interpretation is the single biggest source of harm we see with this test, and it's the reason this type of testing has a controversial reputation in the first place. This is exactly why we don't sell the test without the review.

Think of it like getting complex bloodwork back from your doctor. You might see a number flagged high and assume something is seriously wrong, when in reality that value means nothing without your full medical history. DNA dust testing works the same way, except it's even more nuanced. The report includes individual spore equivalents and thresholds that indicate how elevated certain species are above what's considered normal. But you won't know what to do with that information or how to interpret it. A number that looks alarming might be completely expected for your climate, your cleaning habits, or your HVAC setup. And a number that looks fine might be masking something worth investigating. What those numbers actually mean depends on your health history and current symptoms, your climate, your cleaning and maintenance habits, past water damage or remediation, your HVAC system, how and where the sample was collected, and your personal sensitivity levels.

Without that full picture, the numbers don't just lose meaning. They become the basis for fear-driven decisions that cost people real time, real money, and real peace of mind. That's not something we're willing to contribute to.

The Forensic Review exists so that every client walks away with an interpretation that actually reflects their situation, not a report full of numbers that scares them into the wrong next step.

One test is usually enough. We collect dust from all your main living areas to get a representative picture of the whole house.

Why the whole house? DNA testing isn't designed to pinpoint where mold is. It screens your home's overall fungal fingerprint and flags if something looks off. One test in one room doesn't give us enough data to move forward, and it risks sending you down the wrong path.

If you wanted to do room-to-room comparison, you'd need five or six samples, and that adds up fast. Since the next step after ERMI is almost always an inspection anyway, we'd rather not see you waste money on unnecessary testing.

For larger homes (4,000+ square feet) or multi-level properties, some people choose to "zone" their testing. First floor and second floor separately, or the basement on its own. This can give more detailed data about how different parts of the home compare. If you run two tests for the same property, you still only need one interpretation from us.

But for most homes? One test is all you need to know whether it's time to go deeper.

Yes. If you are not a current onboarded member, the review is mandatory. We don't believe in selling you a test you can't read, and trust us, you won't be able to interpret this on your own. The review is where the test becomes useful.

Results will be shared with you the morning of your Forensic Review with PJ. Results are shared in our private portal, so we suggest you create profile prior to your appointment to ensure that your session time is not wasted.

We know the people asking this usually have results in hand, a family they're worried about, and just want someone to help them make sense of what they're looking at.

We hear you, and we want to explain why we can't review outside results, because the reason actually matters for you.

Here's something worth understanding first: an ERMI is a screening tool. It exists to answer one question: do I need more information?

If your results are concerning, the ERMI has already done its job. At that point, what you need isn't an interpretation. You need a plan.

Unfortunately, not all DNA dust testing labs are the same. Some of the more popular labs are inaccurate. Reviewing results from a lab we don't trust puts us in the position of drawing conclusions from a foundation we can't vouch for, and we won't do that to you.

The lab is only half of it. Many labs give inadequate sampling instructions, which means we've seen a lot of people sample incorrectly without ever knowing it, and that directly affects their results. If we reviewed your outside results and something looked off, we'd have to come to you with a double hit: the lab may be unreliable, and the sample may have been compromised. That's a hard place to start a relationship.

We do not offer standalone Forensic Reviews. Every Forensic Review is paired with the ERMI we run, that's what makes it forensic.

If your results are concerning and you're ready to move forward: Onboarding is your next step.

This is where we assess your full picture: your home, your health, your history, and yes, your existing results’ and build a real plan forward. You can learn more about Onboarding here.

If your results left you with more questions than answers: you may want to retest with us. More reliable data, collected correctly, gives you something you can actually build from.

Usually no. Not as a first step.

ERMI is a screening tool for investigation, not a pass/fail test for buying a house.

This question comes up often because ERMI testing is widely recommended in mold-aware communities as a way to screen a home before purchasing. The idea sounds appealing: run a test, get a number, and quickly know whether the home is safe. In practice, it doesn't work that way.

An ERMI is a DNA-based dust test that identifies & quantifies mold species present in a home. In a home purchase scenario, you're typically taking one ambient dust sample to represent the entire property. That sample gives a general snapshot of what's settled in the environment, but it can't tell you where something is coming from, how significant it is, or what's actively driving it.

Just as importantly, the numbers cannot be interpreted without context: the home's history, moisture patterns, cleaning habits, occupancy, and the health profile of the people living there.

When we use ERMI for homeowners who are already living in a property and experiencing health issues, we have that context. The test becomes one piece of a larger investigation that helps guide what to do next.

A home purchase is a completely different scenario.

Over the years, I watched buyers run ERMI tests on prospective homes hoping for a clear answer, and the same outcomes happened repeatedly. People rarely found a perfect ERMI, because even well-functioning homes can show small amounts of certain species. Without context, those numbers were often misinterpreted.

Some buyers walked away from homes that may have been perfectly workable. Others moved forward on homes that required more investigation than they realized, with a false sense of security.

That's why we moved away from recommending ERMI as a starting point in the home-buying process.

The core issue is this: you're trying to use a single data point to make a complex decision.

Most homes will have something. The question is not whether a home is perfect. The question is whether what you're seeing is a dealbreaker or something you can understand, manage, and work around.

An ERMI cannot answer that for you.

That decision comes from knowing how to evaluate a home before a test is ever ordered. Moisture risk, construction patterns, ventilation, building performance, and your own health profile. Those are not things you learn from Instagram or a single dust kit result. That’s a skill set, and without it, the test creates more confusion.

So when does ERMI make sense in a home purchase?
After you've done the foundational work. After you've evaluated the property, identified it as a serious candidate, and understand your own health profile well enough to know what an elevated result would actually mean for you. At that point, an ERMI during your contingency period MAY be a useful data point within a larger picture you already understand.

Where to start
If you prefer a DIY approach, start with Home Check. It'll teach you how to evaluate homes before testing is even on the table.

If you want expert 1:1 guidance, onboard as a client. We'll help you assess properties in real time, build the right team, and determine when testing like ERMI actually belongs in the process.

Only if you’re an onboarded member of our practice.

Expedited turnaround times (3-day and 1-day) are available exclusively to our active clients who already have access to priority scheduling, expedited sessions, and the support infrastructure to act on results quickly.

If you’re not an onboarded member, your kit includes the standard 5-day lab turnaround, and your results will be released the morning of your Forensic Review, not before.
There is no way to bypass this process, and we are not able to make exceptions.

This structure exists because faster lab results don't help you if you don't have the context, the access, or the support to do anything with them.

No. Purchasing a DNA Dust Test in the past does not make you an onboarded member of our practice. These are two very different things. Onboarded members have gone through our full client intake process and receive ongoing support, priority access, and expedited options that are not available to non-members. If you're unsure what onboarding means or whether you're an active member, please visit our Services page. If you have to ask, you're probably not onboarded, and that's okay. The review is there to make sure you actually understand what your results mean.

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.

This is a very common question.

Short answer: DNA (ERMI) testing is not designed to identify or confirm a known mold source.

If mold is already visible or there has been known water damage, DNA (ERMI) testing is NOT meant to determine WHERE the mold is coming from, WHAT species it is, or HOW it should be addressed. Identifying a specific source or species requires different types of sampling & evaluation.

DNA (ERMI) testing is a dust-based DNA test that looks at the overall indoor environment. Its purpose is to help determine whether there are patterns that suggest broader mold exposure & whether further investigation, such as an inspection, may be needed. It is a screening & context-building tool, not a source-identification tool in the way we are using it.

In some cases, DNA (ERMI) testing can provide helpful exposure context, especially for people w/health issues & concerns. However, on its own, it will not tell us:

• Where the mold is located

• Whether a visible area is the primary issue

• What remediation steps are required

Because of that, many people who already know they have mold & are experiencing health symptoms choose to bypass DNA (ERMI) testing altogether & move directly into onboarding with us.

From there, we use your intake information to determine what type of inspector makes the most sense based on your home’s history, climate, & your health, symptoms, & sensitivities. We will make a referral once we do your onboarding intake.

Some people still choose DNA (ERMI) testing to gather additional exposure information before deciding on next steps. Both approaches are valid, it depends on how much you already know & what questions you’re trying to answer.

If you already know you have a mold issue, onboarding is usually the most appropriate place to start.

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.

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. The ERMI test won’t answer all your questions about your home. In fact, it often leaves people with more questions than answers. This part of the project (investigation) is often a period of ambiguity. This can be difficult for some people so we like to be transparent up front that it is not a failure on our part during test interpretation, it’s just part of the process. The results are only one piece of data.

It’s meant to be an early screening tool, not a diagnostic one. The results can help determine whether you need a full inspection, and if so, what type, and what level of expertise your inspector should have. It’s one step in a larger process, not a stand-alone solution or a green light for remediation or any big decisions for that matter.

You're not alone.

Most women sit on this for 6 to 9 months before they finally order. That's not a character flaw. That's fear doing its job.

Here's what's usually underneath it: the fear that knowing means you're responsible for what comes next. That one test opens a hundred doors.

• Telling your husband.

• Finding money.

• Researching remediation.

• Maybe moving.

It feels like testing means committing to all of it at once. It doesn't.

Testing is just information.

You're not deciding anything yet. You're not committing to a $30k remediation. You're just finding out what you're actually working with so you can stop spinning in "what if."

And here's the part no one says out loud: the mold doesn't wait with you.

It's doing its thing whether you look or not. Waiting doesn't protect your family. It just delays the moment you can actually do something about it.

There's always a workaround. Always. But we can't find it together until you know what you're dealing with.

You don't have to feel ready. You just have to take the first step.

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.