Indoor Air sciences CSMI Practice Exam

What can tape lift samples be used for in mold assessment?

1. Viable molds only

2. Bacteria

3. Mold to genus level

4. Mycotoxins

The correct answer is: Mold to genus level

Tape lift samples are a valuable tool in mold assessment because they allow for the identification of mold spores and fragments directly from surfaces. When performing a tape lift, a piece of adhesive tape is pressed onto a suspected surface, capturing mold spores and other particulates. These samples can then be analyzed through microscopy or other laboratory methods. Identifying mold to the genus level is particularly important because different genera of mold can have varying health impacts and remediation strategies. For instance, some molds are more toxic or allergenic than others, making it crucial to determine the specific type of mold present in an environment. Other choices, while relevant in the context of microbial analysis, do not accurately reflect the primary use of tape lift samples in mold assessment. Tape lifts do not specifically provide information about viable molds alone, focus solely on bacteria, or allow for the identification of mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain molds, but tape lifts are not designed to quantify these toxins directly. Therefore, the ability to determine the genus of mold present makes tape lift samples a focused and effective method within mold assessment.