Mold Assessment Technician Practice Exam

What flow rate is recommended for spore trap particle impacts like the Allergenco Air Sampler?

1. 10.0 liters per minute

2. 15.0 liters per minute

3. 20.0 liters per minute

4. 25.0 liters per minute

The correct answer is: 15.0 liters per minute

The recommended flow rate for spore trap particle impacts, such as those using the Allergenco Air Sampler, is 15.0 liters per minute. This specific flow rate is optimized to effectively capture airborne spores while minimizing the chances of oversampling and distortion of fungal community composition. At this flow rate, the sampler can adequately maintain a balance between the volume of air sampled and the precision of the counts obtained, ensuring that the data can reliably represent the concentration of spores in the air without compromising the integrity of the samples. High flow rates could lead to the loss of smaller spores or an underrepresentation of certain fungal types that may be sensitive to high airflow environments. Conversely, too low of a flow rate might not adequately capture enough air volume to provide an accurate sample, leading to potential underreporting of spores present in the environment. Thus, the choice of 15.0 liters per minute is critical for achieving accurate and representative sampling in mold assessments.