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The best mold test kits allow you to test the air or a surface in your home and include a detailed lab analysis option.
Mold is a common problem in high-humidity rooms, bathrooms, basements, and any areas exposed to moisture. Failure to kill and clean mold can lead to widespread structural damage. Learning the type of mold you’re dealing with through a test kit empowers you to make the best action plan for remediation.
How Do Mold Test Kits Work?
Mold tests allow you to collect samples – from the air or a surface – and provide you with an agent to grow the mold or provide instructions for sending the samples in for lab analysis.
With most kits, you’ll see visible mold growth within 48 hours if mold spores are in the sample you collected. Most kits also contain a mail-in lab option, allowing you to send your collection to a lab for a detailed analysis of the types of mold and mold spore count. Some mail-in tests include the fee in the purchase price, while others charge an additional $30-$40 for testing.
Four main types of mold test kits include air pumps, swab tests, tape strips, and Petri dishes.
- Air pump mold test kits work by collecting air particles from the room. Users must send the sample to the lab after collection.
- Swab tests are ideal for testing mold on surfaces like HVAC units, window air conditioners, walls, and areas with visible mold. After swabbing the area, users must send the sample to the lab or grow it in a Petri dish.
- Petri dishes allow you to test mold in your home without sending it to a lab. These dishes promote mold growth, so if mold spores from the air hit the petri dish, you’ll be able to see visible mold within 48 hours. Testers can also send petri dishes to a lab for further analysis.
- Tape tests are a type of lab analysis DIY mold kit. Testers place the tape sticky side down on the test area and then package and mail in the strip.
Best Mold Kits
We’ve rounded up the best mold kits for at-home testing, ranked by category.
Best Overall: Mold Armor FG500
Mold Armor FG500 provides three testing options: air quality, HVAC system, or a surface sample test. It includes swabs, a petri dish, and an agent to grow the mold. After testing, the petri dish will grow mold within 48 hours if spores are present.
There is an optional mail-in lab analysis for this kit to determine mold type. It takes three weeks to get results after you send the test kit in.
Mold Armor FG500 has a 4 out of 5-star rating from over 5,500 reviewers. Many users report seeing mold growth soon after using the test kit. The biggest complaint is the difficulty of keeping the sample sterile for the mail-in test.
Pros:
- Three test type options: HVAC, airborne, and surface test
- Comes with a growing agent for at-home testing
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Mail-in lab results take three weeks and cost an additional fee
- There’s difficulty in keeping the sample sterile
Fastest Results: Healthful Home 5-Minute Mold Test
Those wanting quick results will appreciate the Healthful Home 5-Minute Mold Test. It tests for the two most toxic kinds of mold, including Stachybotrys and Asp/Pen. It also contains a third sample collector and prepaid lab analysis envelope for more extensive results.
To use the test, swab dusty areas where mold is suspected. Place the swab back in the tube, break the liquid capsule, and shake. Then add five drops of liquid to each test strip. Within five minutes, the tests will indicate whether you have either type of mold.
Healthful Home 5-Minute Mold Test has over 2,500 user reviews and a 3.9 out of 5-star rating—users like that this test detects mold allergens and toxic mold. The main complaint is that there is only one diluent, so you can only test one area.
Pros:
- Tests for the two most toxic and allergen-causing molds
- Easy-to-use test strips with five-minute results
- Offers additional lab analysis for an extra fee
Cons:
- The kit only contains one vial of test diluent, so you can’t test multiple areas
Best Air Pump: My Mold Detective 3-Room Kit
My Mold Detective contains an air sampling pump, one outdoor collection cassette, three indoor collection cassettes, and a tape test strip. You can use it to take air samples in different rooms and mail in the cassettes for a detailed lab test.
A test like this is ideal if you suspect mold spores are causing allergies or respiratory issues. You can also use the test trip to take samples of your HVAC system or areas with visible mold. Sending tests to the lab costs an additional $35 per sample.
My Mold Detective 3-Room Kit has 300 user ratings, earning 3.9 out of 5 stars. While the test is easy to use and the lab provides quick results, some users were disappointed in the overall cost of having four samples tested.
Pros:
- Allows you to test air quality in three rooms and one outdoor space
- Offers quick lab results detailing the types of mold found
- Provides an additional tape strip to test surface mold
Cons:
- Expensive – the cost of the test plus 4 lab fees is more than $200
Best Swab Test: Evviva Sciences At-Home Mold Test Kit
The Evviva Sciences At-Home Mold Test Kit includes ten agar Petri dishes, ten swabs, and a detailed guide on identifying mold types. Use this test to grow mold spores in the Petri dishes within 48 hours. Those uncomfortable with self-identification can send samples to a lab for further analysis.
Since this kit contains so many swabs, you can test the surfaces of several rooms, the HVAC system, or the air quality.
Evviva Sciences At-Home Mold Test Kit has a 4.2 out of 5-star rating with more than 400 reviews. Most users agree these tests are easy to use and the best bang for your buck, but identifying mold yourself is only somewhat accurate.
Pros:
- Comes with ten swabs to test multiple areas
- Includes a guide to diagnosing the type of mold in your home
- Optional lab results for an additional fee
Cons:
- Self-diagnosing mold isn’t accurate and can be misleading
Best with Lab Analysis: Pro Lab DIY Mold Test Kit
The Pro Lab DIY Mold Test Kit comes with three collection methods: an air, bulk, or surface sample. The kit also contains one prepaid lab test. After collecting a sample, users can mail it in via a prepaid envelope. Professional results are available within one week.
Even though the kit has three test methods, users can only send one in to get evaluated. Additional lab testing requires a fee.
The Pro Lab DIY Mold Test Kit has a 3.9 out of 5-star rating from over 200 reviewers. While most users thought the test was easy to use, there was disappointment that the test doesn’t include a mold spore count.
Pros:
- Includes one free lab analysis with the cost of the kit
- The lab analysis is complete in five business days
- Three collections methods to choose from
Cons:
- The test only indicates types of mold and not mold spore counts
- Must pay additional fees to test more than one sample
Best Petri Dish: ImmunoLytics Mold Test Kit
ImmunoLytics Mold Test Kit contains five Petri dishes appropriate for testing rooms, surfaces, and pets for mold. The kit includes all materials to take and send samples to the lab, and each lab test costs $33.
Those who wish to self-diagnose will see mold growing in their dishes within 4-5 days. Once the colonies begin to grow, users can refer to the guide to evaluate normal and abnormal amounts of mold.
The ImmunoLytics Mold Test Kit has 500 user reviews and a 4 out of 5-star rating. Most users agree that these tests are easy to conduct and a good option for those wanting to self-identify. There are a few complaints about the additional fees for lab testing.
Pros:
- Contains five Petri dishes to test multiple spaces
- Options for self-diagnosis or lab analysis
- Easy-to-use kit capable of testing air and surface mold
Cons:
- Lab tests are an additional $33 per Petri dish
How We Chose the Best Mold Test Kits
Mold spores can linger in the air or grow on surfaces, and there are several ways to collect mold samples, depending on the type suspected. We considered all of this when compiling our best mold kits list, finding products to fit each need. We also looked for options that included detailed lab reports and less expensive self-identification tests.
Why Trust Homedit Reviews
Since 2008 Homedit has delivered unbiased reviews, home improvement tips, and ideas. Our goal is to empower our readers, which is why we provide an honest overview of the pros and cons of our recommended products. Our writer, Katie Barton, has a decade of experience in the field and always aims to provide accurate reviews so readers can get the best bang for their buck.
