Fungal pure culture, conventional ID [FPC]
Published: March 24th, 2023
Revised: March 24th, 2023
This tests uses conventional culture and microscopical techniques to provide a species-level identification of a purified fungal culture. While this approach is successful in may cases in assigning robust species identifications, many groups of fungi contain species that cannot be differentiated by this approach and require additional analytical methods such as DNA sequencing. Occasionally, a provisional identification can be made from an appropriately cultured fungal strain solely by microscopy, in which case the result of this test could be reported in a shorter time-frame.
Laboratory code: FPC
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Soot, char, & ash [SOOT]
Published: March 24th, 2023
Revised: March 25th, 2023
Incomplete combustion of organic matter generates by-products such as soot, ash, and char, recognizable as fine powdery dust, embers, debris, and destroyed materials after a fire. Soot, however, can also present as dark discolouration on aged buildings, exhaust plumes from diesel-powered vehicles, and gunk inside engines. Soot is sometimes referred to as carbon black because of its colour, but carbon black is a different material that is produced commercially under controlled conditions and utilized as an ingredient in several products. Burning includes various sources such as fossil fuels, wood fireplaces, vehicles, wildfires, agricultural clearing, and waste destruction. Soot has a varying amount of carbon and organic compounds, while ash is mainly inorganic, and char is linked to burnt wood and damaged building materials. Testing is often necessary to assess contamination, identify the source of soot or other substances, demonstrate restoration and cleaning efficacy, investigate arson and forensics, and settle insurance claims.
This test uses a combination of light microscopy and differential interference microscopy to characterize particle morphology and provide presumptive identification of combustion particulate matter for samples collected as tape lifts and bulk materials, or from air samples.
Laboratory code: SOOT
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Dust particulate analysis, bulk/ tape lift [DP-B]
Published: March 24th, 2023
Revised: March 25th, 2023
This test uses a combination of light microscopy and differential interference microscopy to characterize particle morphology and provide a presumptive identification for samples collected as tape lift samples and bulk materials. Dust particle analysis can be carried out as a stand-alone test or combined with Bulk sample or tape lift/ BioTape sample for microscopic analysis [BT].
Laboratory code: DP-B
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Dust particulate analysis, air [DP-A]
Published: March 24th, 2023
Revised: March 25th, 2023
Spore trap sampling involves collecting airborne particles on a filter membrane or adhesive-coated slide by drawing air through or over the collection medium, respectively. The collection medium is then analyzed by transmitted light microscopy, usually at 600–1000× magnification. A number of different collection devices may be used for spore trap sampling of which the most common are 1) slit impactors such as the Allergenco-D or Air-O-Cell cassette, and 2) mixed cellulose ester membrane (MCEM) filters. Sample collection for this test is described greater detail in Spore trap analysis [ST].
The normally high minute-to-minute variability in levels of airborne spores greatly limits the utility of short-term quantitative air sampling data. This large intrinsic source of variation also minimizes the importance of counting method as a significant source of error. The most critical source of error in spore trap analysis qualitative, involving the identification of captured particles. Our analysis uses a combination of light microscopy and differential interference microscopy to characterize particle morphology and provide a presumptive identification.
This test is typically used as an add-on to Spore trap analysis [ST], to provide a more detailed characterization of captured airborne particles; however, it can be carried out as a stand-alone test.
Laboratory code: DP-A
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Total yeast and mould count [TYMC]
Published: March 24th, 2023
Revised: March 24th, 2023
This test measures total culturable moulds and yeasts contained in a sample of pharmaceutical product, personal care product, medical device, of other similar material by culturing a measured amount of the sample on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and incubating at 20-25°C for a minimum of 5 days prior to analysis. At the end of the incubation period, mould and yeast colonies are counted and reported as CFU/g or CFU/mL. This test is usually conducted on bulk/ fluid samples, but it can also be used to test air.
Laboratory code: TYMC
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