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Sampling for airborne fungi: a statistical comparison of media.

Morring KL; Sorenson WG; Attfield MD

Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1983 Sep; 44(9):662-664

https://doi.org/10.1080/15298668391405526

00173603

A comparison of four broad spectrum media for the determination of airborne fungal microorganisms (FM) was performed. FM were collected using the Andersen six stage viable particle sampler. The sampling sites were a hospital lobby and a loading dock. The mean numbers of colony forming units per cubic meter (CFU/m3) at the hospital site were 340.2 on rose-bengal streptomycin agar (RBS), 308.5 on inhibitory mold agar (IMA), and 91.4 on Littman oxgall agar (LO). The corresponding values at the loading dock site were 128.1CFU/m3 on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), 123.3CFU/m3 on RBS, 116.9CFU/m3 on IMA, and 39.1CFU/m3 on LO. Thus, at both sampling sites, LO yielded much lower colony counts. The analysis of variance by day, time, sampler, and medium for the results at the hospital site gave statistically significant F-values for medium and for sampling day at the 0.01 level. The variations due to the time of day and the samplers were insignificant. It was also found that colony growth and spreading were better controlled on RBS compared to IMA and SDA. The authors recommend RBS as the medium of choice for broad spectrum aeromycological sampling. They state that although it is not available commercially, they have found it convenient to prepare.

NIOSH-Author; Air-sampling; Fungi; Allergens; Analytical-methods; Cell-culture-techniques; Health-hazards; Occupational-exposure

AIHAAP

19830901

Journal Article

1983

9

0002-8894

American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal