Mold testing prices vary wildly because the methods vary wildly — and some "free" options cost you the most. Here's an honest comparison of what each approach actually delivers.
We are HVAC and indoor air quality specialists, not a medical provider. Nothing on this page is medical advice.
You or an inspector collect a dust sample and mail it to a lab. Species-level DNA data, but turnaround typically runs a week or more — and sample collection quality dramatically affects results. Cost varies by panel and lab.
Spore-trap air samples analyzed under a microscope. Faster than DNA panels but counts spores rather than identifying species DNA — less useful for CIRS protocols where physicians typically want ERMI/HERTSMI-style data. Usually priced per sample, so multi-room testing adds up.
The same DNA-based analysis as mail-in panels, run on-site with results the same visit instead of a week later. Species-level identification, immediately actionable — and repeatable on the spot if something needs a second look. This is the approach we bring to mold-sensitive and CIRS-recovery homes.
A free inspection from a remediation company is a sales visit, not independent data. There's an inherent conflict of interest when the company finding the mold is the company paid to remove it. Whatever testing route you choose, the incentive structure behind it matters as much as the method.
The method (DNA panel vs. spore counting), the number of rooms or samples, turnaround time, and whether interpretation is included. On-site qPCR consolidates several of those into one visit — contact us for current pricing for your specific situation.
Settling-plate kits mostly confirm that air contains mold spores — which is true of every building on earth. They can't tell you species, quantity, or whether your levels are abnormal. For real decisions — especially CIRS protocols or real estate — they're not meaningful data.
We provide written reports with species-level qPCR data in the ERMI/HERTSMI-2 style that CIRS-literate physicians typically work with, and we're glad to communicate with your physician's office directly.
No — and that's deliberate. We handle testing, HVAC assessment, and post-remediation verification, and coordinate with licensed remediation contractors for removal work. Separating who tests from who profits from the findings is exactly the conflict-of-interest problem we built this service to avoid.
Learn more about how mold testing works, the difference between inspection and testing, or the full Mold & CIRS Support guide.