Our staff have fielded many questions
about our Home Air testing kits over the years. Here are some common questions and
answers.
  
How accurate is this pectin
gel test?
By following the easy step-by-step
instructions the test will be accurate. By holding over a flowing air vent or leaving
opened on a coffee table any spores or bacteria that land on the nutrient surface will
grow into a colony unless they are dead.
How long does it take to
perform this test?
It depends on how it is done. If
the open plate is placed over a flowing air vent, then five minutes exposure is
probably plenty. If it is put open in a room, two hours may be a proper
exposure time.
What Liquid test culture
medium do you use for your home air tests?
We us a patented
technology pectin gel medium develop by Micrology Laboratories, LLC. The pectin gel
culture media provides temperature independent results and is trademarked as Redigel®
and Easygel® . The HealthProO2 pectin gel is formulated as a liquid, which is
poured into the provided petri dishes where it solidifies and is virtually
indistinguishable from a standard prepoured petri dish used in scientific lab tests.
PharmaTropic Labs has utilized the Easygel® technology in their simple to use
home air test kit for either free standing air exposure or swab testing of specific
surfaces. Each HealthProO2 air test kits makes for inexpensive "before and
after" tests and no additional equipment or materials are needed.
What specifically will the
test show me?
The HealthProO2 will detect the presence
of mold, yeasts & bacteria. It will give you a good idea of the different things in
your air and also an idea of the prevalence or concentration. It will also show
whether you have predominantly one or two things or a varied mixture. If you have a
lot of one or two things, that is an indication that these may be growing somewhere in
your home environment system.
How often should I perform
this test?
It depends on
the conditions in your home environment. If you know you have a mold problem the
HealthProO2 will help you to locate the source of the problem. It is up to you to take
action and remove the microbes from the breeding source. Many of our customers retest
their home after they have found a solution to the problems they have.
How many tests
are included in the basic starter and can I get a multi kit discount?
Three individual tests. We
offer quantity discounts and free freight on all kit purchases.
1. Starter kit: 3-test kits and free shipping for $16.99
(apartments. offices, smaller homes)
2. Level-2 kit: 6-test kits and free shipping for $29.99
3. Level-3 kit: 9-tests and free shipping for $45.99
4. Level-4 kit: 12-tests and free shipping for $56.99 .. click here to
purchase air test kits |
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How many tests
will I need to test my home?
This depends on the size of your home. We
recommend that if you have central air/heat you do the test at the room level as well, as
from the vent, while the air/heat is running and windows are closed. This will help you to
narrow down the areas that require the most attention. For older homes that have baseboard
or radiant heat that do not use a central heat/cool system we recommend 1-test per/each
500 square feet of living space.
What types of mold will the
test detect?
Black, brown and green molds. Each
mold will have its own characteristic appearances. Molds generally grow slower than
bacteria and yeasts and it may take several days for them to be easily visible at
room temperatures. Use our general mold results guideline in our site for a better
understanding of your mold issues in your home.
What types of bacteria will
the test detect?
Most of the common aerobic types
including Bacillus species, Staphylococcus species, Coliforms, Pseudomonas and many
others. The viable propagule must be present in the air for growth to occur.
Many bacteria cannot survive drying out, but the spores of Bacillus
species produce endospores which are very resistant to drying and heat and
are often found floating in the air.
  
What types of yeasts will the
test detect?
All of the common types of yeast known to
populate a home envoronment.
How can the presence of mold
affect my health?
You may be allergic to the spores or
mycelial fragments of colonies, or if you breathe live spores into your
respiratory system, or introduce them into body cavities, they may grow in your body and
cause infection. If you think you have these colonies growing we recommend that you alert
your physician as well as remediation for the source of the growths.
How can the
presence of yeasts affect my health?
You may be allergic to yeast colonies and
if you breathe yeasts into your respiratory system, or introduce them into body
cavities, they may grow in your body and cause infection. If you think you have these
colonies growing we recommend that you alert your physician as well as remediation for the
source of the growths.How
can the presence of bacteria affect my health?
Penetration of skin or body cavities may
result in infections. Eating or drinking materials containing them may cause
illness or toxic reactions. If you think you have these colonies growing we recommend that
you alert your physician as well as remediation for the source of the growths. |
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How many tests
should I perform within my home, apartment or office?
Really depends on what type of heating/cooling
system is in your house. For those homes that have central air/heat and have a living
space of up to 2000 sq ft we recommend 4-5 tests at opposite ends of the home and one more
centralized. Generally with heating/cooling systems that do not create airflow throughout
the house such as electric baseboard or radiator style we recommend 1-test per each
250-350 Sq ft or 1-per/every 3-rooms.
If I own an air purifier how
close to the purifier should I perform the test?
5 to 15 feet away. as a quality air
purifier should be effective at this distance.
What is the best temperature
to perform the tests?
70-90 degrees Fahrenheit in darkened
area. Most microbes will grow best in this range, but some like it hotter or
cooler. There is no one exact range that is optimum, but most will grow at 70-90
F.
Will test results vary based
on the time of the year the test is performed?
If you are introducing high amounts of
outdoor air the mold counts will be higher in the spring and summer. You will
generally see a larger variety of microbes in outdoor air than in indoor air.
How long will it take to get
the results?
Bacteria will be seen on the plate within
24 hrs whereby molds and yeasts will show up in 36-72+ Hrs. Read about how to analyize your test results ...click here.
 
Are there any safety issues
regarding the test?
None. The HealthProO2 air quality test is
approved for home, condo and apartment use
Should I keep the windows open
when performing the test?
No. Windows should be closed in the space
where you are performing the test for 10 hours prior to pouring the pectin gel solution
into collection dish.
If I have allergies or asthma
could the presence of mold, yeast and
bacteria aggravate or trigger the symptoms?
Yes. The presence of any air pollution
and contaminents can aggravate these symptoms.
Where should I place the test
within my home?
We recommend that you place the initial petri collection dish in areas that you would
generally occupy throughout the day or night that's away from open doors and windows
and HVAC vents. Place petri dish where common household dust collects. If your testing air
quality after placing an Air Purifier/filtration into test area be sure to control
external contamination of the air space.
Do you provide any guarantees
with the test?
Yes. We guarantee that the test will
detect the presence of mold, yeasts & bacteria within your living space.
If I find heavy contamination
on the test what should I do?
Find the appropriate remediation solution
at the source. If need be retest but collecting samples from air flowing directly from
heating/air conditioning vents. Consider an air purification system that will remove the
specific contamination at the HVAC unit source. If you have microbes, molds, growing in
your home in wet walls, etc, you must get to the source to cleaned it up.
  
Why have other websites
mentioned that the Petri dish test for air quality
evaluation is a waste of money?
They are trying to sell you a more
expensive air sampling electronic unit test, which will virtually give you the same
information. Then you pay for lab test results. Other "fancy" approaches
may be impressive, but will not necessarily give more useful information.
Following our easy step by step instructions you need not spend more money to test your
air quality.
What type of research backs
the performance of your air quality tester?
Our product was researched and developed
by a 40 year veteran and university professor of microbiology who is on our
staff. Our collection growth medium is a Patented pectin gel solution and much more
reliable then the cheaper agar based kits.
Do the NanoO2 air purifiers
emit ozone like many competitive ionic type units??
The NanoO2
air purification process does not release into the air any dangerous levels of Ozone
(O3). Our exclusive Nano PCO chamber immediately converts any produced Ozone into
negatively charged ions, super Oxide and hydroxide ions to attack pollutants in your homes
air. Our recommended purifiers product Ozone levels well below the maximums of the EPA, or
any State regulatory ozone production output levels of home air purifiers.
  
We accept all major credit cards and PayPal for
immediate purchased units. Freight Shipments are charged at actual FEDX
or USPS package mail service published rates to the specified ship to location. Choose
USPS shipping for PO Box and military APO box deliveries. Choose USPS Priority Mail
shipping for Overseas destinations, and we will have to add the actual USPS charge to your
order.. Our shopping cart is on a secure server, which encripts all email sales
confirmations and PharmaTropic protects your privacy every step of the way.
 
There are almost never two homes with identical air contamination issues.
Too many variables based upon family habits, pets, structure issues and traffic patterns.
Each home has  its own
variety of IAQ contamination points. Allergens that can negatively affect your
health can be secretly developed throughout your house without your knowledge. Standard
preventative measures can help, but do not always work. Face it. Air Quality testing is
just the starting point to a better quality of life through better health choices. Get
started today and purchase a 3 pack kit
for only $16.99 with free freight. Believe it our not. The average home's air quality
is 10 times worse then the outdoor air in a polluted industrial city.
But I keep a very clean house and use anti-bacterial products on all surfaces.
The AMA (American Medical Association) says that people should not only
stop over-using antibiotics, but should also stop
buying anti-bacterial soaps and detergents, which can also build up bacterial resistance.
The point of washing anything is to clear away bacteria and the addition of a bug-killing
agent does NOT help the process. Antibacterial products could increase the chance
of bacteria developing resistance to antibiotic cleansors, through a process known as
co-selection. So remember, just washing with simple soap and water IS an anti-bacterial
already. There's no need for reinforcements.
FACT! Asthma ranks among the most common chronic
conditions in the United States, affecting an estimated 14.9 million persons. Asthma is
the #1 cause of absenteeism in schools. Poor Home air quality is a prime activator of
child and adult asthma attacks.
Regenerating Your Environment is a Healthy Choice only you can
control.
Unfortunately there are no governmental laws protecting you from breathing
harmful pollutants in your home. Take advantage of the latest in air purification
technologies, that are scientifically proven to improve the air you breath inside your
home. We recommend the Nano 02 air purifiers and filtration units as the most cost
effective immediate solutions to the most common home air quality issues. Learn how these
NanoO2 air purifier units incorporate the top 3 technologies for purifying your home
environment into one cost effective air filtration system....
CLICK HERE. |
