The test for the things that are not mold

Water systems: private wells and any supply that has been opened, repaired, flooded or left standing - compromised water can look and taste normal.

Materials that stayed wet: sewage, graywater and floodwater carry bacteria from the start, and materials carrying greater than 20% moisture, or soaked, should be expected to support actively growing microorganisms if not dried within about 48 hours.

Standing water in building systems: condensate pans, humidifiers and cooling equipment - often the source of odor complaints with nothing visible.

Bacteriological samples are easily contaminated, so they are collected with sterile containers and swabs, kept cold, and delivered within the laboratory's hold time under a chain of custody. Water, surfaces and materials can each be sampled, depending on the question.

Most bacteriological analysis is culture-based: the laboratory places the sample on a growth medium, incubates it, and reports what grows. Some tests ask whether an indicator organism is present or absent; others count colonies so locations can be compared. Because incubation takes time, results are not immediate.

Results describe that sample, from that location, at that time. Re-sampling after corrective work is normal. The report does not make health determinations - those belong to a physician, and matters involving a shared supply belong with the relevant authority.

Bacterial contamination in a building is usually a water problem, so it is often paired with moisture mapping to show where the water came from and whether it is still arriving.

Disinfectants and antimicrobial coatings applied before an assessment can obscure what the assessment is meant to examine. We do not remediate or disinfect.