ERMI stands for Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, a test developed by the EPA that analyzes settled dust from your home using DNA methods. You collect a dust sample by vacuuming a defined area or using a Swiffer cloth, and the lab tests it for 36 different mold species. The result is a single score that shows how your home compares to a national average. HERTSMI-2 is a shorter, more focused version of the ERMI. Rather than testing for 36 species, it looks at just five: Stachybotrys chartarum, Chaetomium globosum, Wallemia sebi, Aspergillus penicillioides, and Aspergillus versicolor. It's a cost-effective option when you already have a diagnosis and are trying to determine whether a space is safe to return to.
ERMI stands for Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, a test developed by the EPA that analyzes settled dust from your home using DNA methods. You collect a dust sample by vacuuming a defined area or using a Swiffer cloth, and the lab tests it for 36 different mold species. The result is a single score that shows how your home compares to a national average. HERTSMI-2 is a shorter, more focused version of the ERMI. Rather than testing for 36 species, it looks at just five: Stachybotrys chartarum, Chaetomium globosum, Wallemia sebi, Aspergillus penicillioides, and Aspergillus versicolor. It's a cost-effective option when you already have a diagnosis and are trying to determine whether a space is safe to return to.
