ABBEY LANELABORATORY, L.L.C.

Species or sub-species level identifications are determined from a combination of direct examination of materials, slide cultures, and physiological tests on diagnostic media.  It is our goal to provide you with the most complete diagnosis of the organisms sent for identification. 

OUR REPORTS

All reports are summarized in an Executive Summary which explains in plain talk what you may expect to be dealing with in terms of exposure to mold contamination. This Executive Summary will help you make the best choices for your individual situation. 

In cases where we have received a highly toxic mold such as Stachybotrys chartarum, we will phone you immediately upon species determination.

For each mold reported we provide species name, colored photomicrographs, effects on human health, effects on other organisms, ecology and worldwide distribution, and physiology. The physiology portion is highly detailed, and is provided to assist health providers and rebuilding contractors with the best information about the optimum growth conditions of the molds, and their ability to grow on various building materials. This will help avoid placing the wrong materials into a decontaminated space and help avoid environmental air, humidity and temperature situations that would otherwise encourage toxic mold growth.

The information we provide is a synopsis compiled from our archives of reports from many years working with large numbers of customers, our network of colleagues in other laboratories (including the National Fungus Collections in Beltsville, MD), and current literature information which, for some molds, fills chapters of Medical Mycology textbooks and Sick Building Syndrome conference proceedings. 

We have extensive Company-held microscope slide collections, reference culture collections, and photomicrographs of both common and rarely found molds at our command.  In addition to our own extensive literature resources, we are within 15 minutes of Oregon State University, where the Gladys Valley Library houses a rich collection of mycological and other biological literature and journals. 

With over 30 years of experience in identification techniques for molds all over the world, including both Tropical and Temperate climates, buildings, contaminated foodstuffs, cleanroom contaminants, medical device contaminants and many other materials, we are able to provide you with a highly reliable identification in a timely manner.