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Molds
Interpreting Sampling Results
A useful method for interpreting microbiological results is to compare the kinds and levels of organisms detected
in different environments. Usual comparisons are indoors to outdoors, or complaint areas to non-complaint areas.
Specifically, in buildings without mold problems, the qualitative diversity of airborne fungi indoors and
outdoors should be similar. Conversely, the dominating presence of one or two kinds of fungi indoor, and the
absence of the same kind outdoors, may indicate a moisture problem and degraded air quality. Also, the
consistent presence of fungi-such as Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus versicolor, or various Penicillium
species over and beyond background concentrations may indicate the occurrence of a moisture problem and a
potential atypical exposure. Generally, indoor mold types should be no greater than outdoors and non-complaint
areas. Analytical results from bulk materials or dust samples may also be compared to results of similar samples
collected from reasonable comparison areas.
Comparisons of total bacterial levels indoors vs. outdoors may not be as useful with fungi, since natural
reservoirs exist both outdoors and indoors. Comparisons of specific taxa of bacteria present, excluding those
of known human origin, can help determine building-related sources.
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