Sample ID
BD-2026-1042
Sample Report · Demonstration Data
Environmental Relative Moldiness Index · Mold qPCR Analysis
A reading of the home’s mold signature, interpreted.
A whole-house settled-dust profile analyzed across 36 mold species by quantitative PCR — then read, in plain language, by a BioDwell environmental scientist.
Prepared for
Sarah & Tom Harrington
Property assessed
1842 Cedar Hollow Lane, Eagle, ID 83616
At a glance
Executive Summary · § 01The Harrington home returns an ERMI of 16.6, which places it in the HIGH relative-moldiness band against the U.S. national survey.
The elevation is concentrated, not broad — it is driven by a handful of moisture-loving species (notably Eurotium amstelodami and several Penicillium species), a pattern we typically read as sustained elevated indoor humidity or a prior, possibly already-resolved, moisture event rather than active catastrophic flooding. Reassuringly, the HERTSMI-2 screen — the five species most associated with re-occupancy concern — lands firmly in the favorable range, with Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor not detected.
Group 1 · Σ log
30.8
Group 2 · Σ log
14.2
ERMI score
16.6
6
Favorable
Results
Species Detail · § 02Values are spore equivalents per milligram of dust (SE/mg), measured by mold-specific quantitative PCR. Each species carries a national quartile (Q1–Q4); the bar shows its standing on a shared log scale within its group, colored by quartile. Cooler tones sit at or below the national average; the green Q4 bars mark the species pulling this home’s index upward.
1Water-Damage Indicator Molds
26 species · Σ log = 30.8
| Species | SE / mg | Relative level | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspergillus flavus/oryzae | 4 | Q2 | |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | 21 | Q4 | |
| Aspergillus niger | 190 | Q3 | |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | 3 | Q1 | |
| Aspergillus penicillioides | 133 | Q2 | |
| Aspergillus restrictus | 29 | Q3 | |
| Aspergillus sclerotiorum | 47 | Q4 | |
| Aspergillus sydowii | not detected | Q1 | |
| Aspergillus unguis | not detected | Q1 | |
| Aspergillus versicolor | not detected | Q1 | |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | 793 | Q2 | |
| Chaetomium globosum | 2 | Q1 | |
| Cladosporium sphaerospermum | 8 | Q1 | |
| Eurotium amstelodami (Aspergillus) | 5,254 | Q4 | |
| Paecilomyces variotii | 25 | Q3 | |
| Penicillium brevicompactum | 1,254 | Q4 | |
| Penicillium corylophilum | 746 | Q4 | |
| Penicillium crustosum | 29 | Q2 | |
| Penicillium purpurogenum | 4 | Q2 | |
| Penicillium spinulosum | 2 | Q1 | |
| Penicillium variabile | not detected | Q1 | |
| Scopulariopsis brevicaulis/fusca | 2 | Q1 | |
| Scopulariopsis chartarum | 2 | Q1 | |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | not detected | Q1 | |
| Trichoderma viride | 16 | Q2 | |
| Wallemia sebi | 29 | Q2 |
2Common Indoor & Outdoor Molds
10 species · Σ log = 14.2
| Species | SE / mg | Relative level | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acremonium strictum | 10 | Q2 | |
| Alternaria alternata | 2 | Q1 | |
| Aspergillus ustus | not detected | Q1 | |
| Cladosporium cladosporioides type 1 | 1,581 | Q2 | |
| Cladosporium cladosporioides type 2 | 90 | Q3 | |
| Cladosporium herbarum | 139 | Q2 | |
| Epicoccum nigrum | 210 | Q2 | |
| Mucor amphibiorum | 18 | Q2 | |
| Penicillium chrysogenum | 96 | Q3 | |
| Rhizopus stolonifer | not detected | Q1 |
Re-occupancy Screen
HERTSMI-2
Favorable
6
| Species | SE / mg | Q |
|---|---|---|
| Aspergillus penicillioides | 133 | Q2 |
| Aspergillus versicolor | not detected | Q1 |
| Chaetomium globosum | 2 | Q1 |
| Stachybotrys chartarum | not detected | Q1 |
| Wallemia sebi | 29 | Q2 |
Favorable≤ 10
Borderline11 – 15
Unfavorable> 15
What this means
Interpretation · § 03An ERMI of 16.6 places this home in the HIGH relative-moldiness band when measured against the 2021 U.S. national survey of homes. That number is a comparison, not a verdict — it tells us where this home’s dust profile sits relative to the broader housing stock, and here it sits above the typical range.
What carries the score is specific and worth dwelling on. The profile is driven by Eurotium (Aspergillus) amstelodami and several Penicillium species — most notably P. brevicompactum and P. corylophilum. This is a recognizable signature: a community of molds that thrive on sustained elevated indoor humidity. We most often read it as a marker of chronically damp conditions or a prior, possibly already-resolved, moisture event — rather than the abrupt, water-soaked fingerprint of active catastrophic flooding.
Encouragingly, the HERTSMI-2 score of 6 sits squarely in the favorable band (≤ 10). HERTSMI-2 narrows the lens to the five species most associated with re-occupancy concerns, and here they are not markedly elevated — Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor were not detected at all (below the laboratory reporting limit). Taken together, the two indices tell a coherent and ultimately workable story: the home shows a clear humidity-driven mold burden that should be addressed, but it does not bear the markers of the most stubborn water-damage organisms.
Recommended next steps
01
Find and correct the moisture source.
The elevated Penicillium / Eurotium community is sustained by available moisture. Inspect for elevated relative humidity, condensation on cold surfaces, and any evidence of past water intrusion — and resolve the underlying cause before any cleanup, so the profile does not simply return.
02
Remediate affected materials to industry standard.
Where impacted materials are identified, pursue targeted remediation following recognized industry guidance (IICRC S520). Targeted is the operative word — the data points to specific drivers, not a whole-house event.
03
Re-test by ERMI after the work.
Once the moisture source is corrected and remediation is complete, re-sample by ERMI to confirm the index has moved back toward the Q2 range. A post-work reading is how we verify the correction held.
Scope
ERMI characterizes the mold profile of the building’s settled dust — it is a measure of the home, not of its occupants. It does not diagnose conditions or predict health outcomes. For any health question, please consult your physician.
About this test
Methodology & Limitations · § 04The method
The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index is a U.S. EPA-developed metric derived from mold-specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR). DNA from 36 mold species is extracted from settled house dust and quantified, then expressed as spore equivalents per milligram. The 26 water-damage species (Group 1) and 10 common species (Group 2) are each log-summed, and the difference yields the ERMI score.
What it shows — and doesn’t
ERMI provides a relative, whole-house snapshot of the mold community captured in settled dust, benchmarked to a national survey. It does not localize mold to a specific room, distinguish living from dormant spores, or measure airborne exposure at a moment in time. It is a screening and comparison tool, best paired with a visual moisture assessment.
Sample & handling
Whole-house settled dust collected via Swiffer/EMMA-style method (Sample ID BD-2026-1042); 4.9 mg of dust analyzed. Collected Apr 10, 2026 · received Apr 13, 2026 · reported Apr 16, 2026. Results reflect the dust submitted and the conditions present at collection.
Accreditation
Analysis performed under an ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited quantitative-PCR program. ERMI is a research-developed index of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; HERTSMI-2 is a derived five-species re-occupancy screen.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 · accredited qPCR
U.S. EPA · ERMI index
MSQPCR · 36 species
HERTSMI-2 · re-occupancy screen
Dr. Mark L. Arvin, Ph.D., MSPH
Chief Science Officer · Senior Environmental Scientist
Jalen Winegar, A.S.
Environmental Specialist