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• <br /> ( > <br /> Wall) <br /> 4. Mycometer is not a scientifically accepted method as a surrogate for visual <br /> inspection of mold growth. <br /> Mycometer uses a chemical method to quantify fungal biomass based on <br /> production of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase. The method supposedly measures <br /> both viable and non-viable spores,hyphae,and fungal particles like hyphal <br /> fragments on surfaces or air. This method is not accepted by the scientific <br /> community as a surrogate for visual inspection of the suspicious area or DME of <br /> samples under microscope. In fact, it erroneously undermines the well- <br /> established, simple,and low cost microscopic examination of mold growth. <br /> Reeslev et al. (2003)wrote the paper on quantifying mold biomass on gypsum <br /> board and concluded that while the test has a better correlation between biomass <br /> and production of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase over ergosterol,the study failed <br /> to show direct biomass measurement from gypsum wallboard. Only in agar <br /> culture under artificial media they obtained good results (Reeslev, M.,Miller,M., <br /> and Nielsen,K. F. (2003). Quantifying Mold Biomass on Gypsum Board: <br /> Comparison of Ergosterol and Beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase as Mold Biomass <br /> Parameters.Appl Environ Microbiol. 69(7),3996-3998). While the science <br /> behind biomass quantification is well understood and used by fungal ecologists <br /> worldwide in variety of outdoor environments, its application in indoor <br /> environments is flawed. The use of this method does not answer the critical <br /> questions of whether or not mold is growing on the surfaces, how widespread the <br /> mold is on a given surface, or what type of mold is present on the surface. The <br /> data produced by this methodology is not evaluated by indoor air quality <br /> professionals nor can they be compared to any nationally accepted standard and <br /> therefore is not reliable. <br /> 5. The mold species reported are not human pathogens. <br /> None of the mold species reported in the samples collected in July 2014 <br /> and March/April 2015 by Engineering Systems, Inc. and AMEC are human <br /> pathogens. Certain species may be opportunistic pathogens meaning they can <br /> 75 <br />