Description
Quantitative detection of actinomycete microbial content.
Response time: 7 days Response time
Sample limitations: Swiffer fabric sampling powder: we require a minimum of 10 mg of powder; If you can see a lot of dust in Swiffer, it will be fine.
- Avoid taking samples of surfaces that have been hot.
- Avoid surfaces that have been exposed to biocides, for example, chemicals that contain chlorine.
- Do not sample surfaces where there is drywall dust or clay dust.
Actinomycetes
The most frequent species of bacteria found in buildings damaged by water are actinomycetes (which include actinomyces and mycobacteria), this is the type of bacteria that produces biotoxins similar to mycotoxin in the mold. In general, the biotoxins of bacteria by weight and mass are much more important than, say, mycotoxins. “This test is based on next-generation DNA sequencing, also known as 16S metagenomics. The test is based on the microbial identification of all bacteria in the sample. The Actinomycetes test was developed by selecting the 40 main species of Actinomycetes in the sample to create a score of actinomycetes in a Building-related Disease (BRI) situation.
The species included in the score have been reported in multiple studies that link them to BRI.
Score System:
| Score | Score Range | Interpretation |
| Q1 | 9 or below | Indicative of a Healthy Building |
| Q2 | Between 10 to 15 | Further investigation needed |
| Q3 | Greater than 15 | Suggestive of Building-Related Illness |
