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Stachybotrys mold testing can be used to detect the presence of this fungus. This organism was reported to be the cause of pulmonary hemorrhage among infants in Cleveland; however, this report was later repudiated. Stachybotrys mold testing performed in a similar outbreak in Chicago revealed more organisms in the control homes than in the case homes. Symptoms of exposure are hotly debated but there are no reputable studies to date that confirm outcomes other than outcomes accepted by the Institute of Medicine. Nevertheless, others suggest that all buildings with water damage should have stachybotrys mold testing performed.

The term sick building syndrome is used to describe situations in which a substantial proportion of occupants experience non-specific health and comfort effects. The complaints may be localized or widespread throughout the unit. Sick building syndrome symptoms commonly include complaints such as headache and fatigue. Symptoms quickly subside when occupants leave the building. Some investigators have attributed mold exposure as a cause, but many other sources of etiology have also been put forth. Another term, building-related illness, is a well-defined term that has a specific cause (for example, Legionnaires disease). On the other hand, sick building syndrome is a vague term that is poorly defined.

When people become exposed to the Norwalk virus, illness may develop within 24 – 48 hours resulting in symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping with or without fever. Severe dehydration can occur and is life-threatening. Drinking fluids may not be sufficient for hydration; therefore, medical attention may be necessary. The Norwalk virus often occurs in outbreak settings in heavily populated and confined situations. Hotels and cruise lines have had numerous reported outbreaks of this disease. PathCon scientists can give expert advice regarding controlling Norwalk virus outbreaks.

When people become exposed to the Norovirus, illness may develop within 24 – 48 hours resulting in symptoms that include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping with or without fever. Severe dehydration can occur and is life-threatening. Drinking fluids may not be sufficient for hydration; therefore, medical attention may be necessary. The Norovirus often occurs in outbreak settings in heavily populated and confined situations. Hotels and cruise lines have had numerous reported outbreaks of this disease. PathCon scientists can give expert advice regarding controlling Norovirus outbreaks.

PathCon supports clients who perform microbiological air sampling. PathCon offers sample collection supplies and laboratory analysis for air, bulk and water samples collected from the indoor building environment. Fungal and bacterial samples are important components of microbiological air sampling, especially when water damage has occurred in a building or home. Microbiological air sampling is commonly used to evaluate potential microbial exposures to occupants inside the work or home environment. PathCon has an extensive national database categorized by geographical regions and by seasons of the year which serves as a basis to assess the relevance of levels and types of fungi after a microbiological air sampling project has been completed.

Legionnaires disease is the single leading killer among all indoor building contaminants in the United States. The estimates for the annual number of Legionnaires disease cases in the United States range from 11,000 to more than 25,000. The incubation period is from 2 to 10 days and the illness is primarily pneumonia with a high fatality rate. PathCon scientists are the leading experts in Legionnaires disease and have investigated outbreaks within the United States and many other parts of the world. PathCon can help identify possible transmission sources by helping collect samples from potential sources including cooling towers, condensers, water heaters, decorative fountains, hot tubs and spas. Contact PathCon for help to keep your employees safe from Legionnaires disease.

PathCon Laboratories are the experts in legionella testing services. PathCon scientists, while working formerly at CDC, developed the laboratory media and methods that are now used for legionella testing throughout the world. This positions PathCon as the premier legionella testing laboratory in the private sector. This organism can be found in a variety of building water systems: cooling towers, decorative fountains, hot tubs, and potable water systems. PathCon also offers consulting services to industrial hygienists, building engineers, environmental health professionals and other individuals responsible for investigation of Legionnaires disease and building-related health complaints. PathCon experts can assist with legionella testing in prevention programs and in disease outbreak settings.

PathCon can provide legionella control by testing and verifying the efficacy of treatment methods of building water systems before disease transmission can occur. PathCon is the industry leader in microbiological disease prevention. PathCon has investigated numerous legionnaires disease outbreaks and has implemented effective legionella control in numerous outbreak settings. Laboratory and consulting services include legionella control, among other types of services, from both office and industrial-type settings. PathCon supports industrial hygienists, building engineers, environmental health professionals and other individuals responsible for investigation of building-related health complaints. Our experts can assist your business in response to an outbreak or on a preventive program that includes legionella control.

PathCon scientists are experts at testing and detecting legionella in building water systems. PathCon scientists were formerly scientists at the CDC and were the same scientists that developed the methods and media used to test for legionella bacteria around the world today. Laboratory services include legionella water testing from all types of building water sources such as cooling towers, hot tubs, spas, hot water tanks, humidifiers, and potable water systems. PathCon supports industrial hygienists, building engineers, environmental health professionals and other individuals responsible for investigation of building-related health complaints. Our experts can assist with outbreak investigations or in helping set up testing and sampling prevention strategies for legionella.

PathCon supports clients who perform indoor air quality testing. PathCon offers sample collection supplies and laboratory analysis for air, bulk and water samples collected from the indoor building environment. Fungal and bacterial samples are important components of indoor air quality testing, especially when water damage has occurred in a building or home. PathCon has an extensive national database categorized by geographical regions and by seasons of the year which serves as a basis to assess the relevance of levels and types of fungi for indoor air quality testing.

PathCon is an IAQ consultant that provides microbiological analysis of air, bulk and water samples. PathCon experts can provide interpretation on the levels of fungi and bacteria detected in air and other environmental samples. PathCon scientists were formerly scientists at the CDC with many years experience as IAQ consultant experts. PathCon scientists can interpret the hazard associated with different levels of Legionella bacteria detected in building water systems. Microbiological issues related to the indoor building environment can be handled by our IAQ consultant experts in a timely and innovative manner.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also called extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is a complex syndrome of varying intensity, clinical presentation, and natural history, rather than a single uniform disease. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is characterized by diffuse inflammation of lung parenchyma and airways in previously sensitized patients. Based on the length and intensity of exposure and subsequent duration of illness, clinical presentations of HP are categorized as acute, subacute (intermittent), and chronic progressive. PathCon conducted several investigations of hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) in machine workers exposed to metalworking fluids. These case studies of HP showed potentially high exposures to a rare and newly discovered species of Mycobacterium. PathCon can be a great resource in evaluating potential exposure to hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

PathCon provides fungal spore identification from air and bulk samples. PathCon has an extensive national database categorized by geographical regions and by seasons of the year which serves as a basis to assess the relevance of levels and types of viable airborne fungi detected during in indoor and outdoor settings. Our laboratory can provide sample collection supplies for Air-O-Cell and tape lift samples. Direct microscopic analysis of bulk samples is also performed. Fungal spore identification is completed within a quick turnaround time. Our experts can assist you with fungal spore identification problems in a timely manner.

PathCon provides fungal identification from environmental samples collected from indoor building environments. PathCon has an extensive national database categorized by geographical regions and by seasons of the year which serves as a basis to assess the relevance of levels and types of fungi detected during fungal identification in indoor and outdoor settings. PathCon scientists can provide fungal identification of common fungi found in indoor air as well as special pathogens, such as the agents of aspergillosis and histoplasmosis. PathCon supports industrial hygienists, building engineers, environmental health professionals and other individuals responsible for investigation of building-related health complaints. Our laboratory can assist with fungal identification in a timely and innovative manner.

PathCon provides environmental mycobacteria analysis from air, bulk and water samples. Metalworking fluids and hot tub water are common sources of environmental mycobacteria. PathCon was the first to report an association between elevated levels of environmental mycobacteria in metalworking fluids and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Our environmental microbiology laboratory services supports clients who perform sampling in both office and industrial-type settings. Many of our scientists have decades of experience in the identification of fungi and bacteria. One-third of them have advanced degrees, and about 95% have B.S. degrees. PathCon can provide sample collection supplies for air, bulk and water samples for environmental mycobacteria in a timely and innovative manner.

PathCon is an environmental microbiology laboratory which provides analysis of air, bulk and water samples. PathCon has an extensive national database categorized by geographical regions and by seasons of the year which serves as a basis to assess the relevance of levels and types of fungi in indoor and outdoor settings. We have a similar database for Legionella bacteria. Our environmental microbiology laboratory services supports clients who perform sampling in both office and industrial-type settings. PathCon supports industrial hygienists, building engineers, environmental health professionals and other individuals responsible for investigation of building-related health complaints with our environmental microbiology laboratory.

PathCon provides E coli testing of water and other environmental samples. PathCon can provide microbiological media for air samples and supplies for bulk and water samples for E coli testing. Testing is performed with speed and accuracy. Positive isolates are confirmed by further biochemical testing. Many of our scientists have decades of experience in the identification of microbiological hazards. One-third of them have advanced degrees, and about 95% have B.S. degrees. Our experts can assist with E coli testing problems in a timely and innovative manner.

PathCon provides support to clients involved in cooling tower treatment. Our scientists can develop environmental sampling protocols that support your procedures for cooling tower treatment. Laboratory services include Legionella analysis of water and other environmental samples. PathCon offers hazard analysis criteria based on the level of Legionella bacteria detected from various building sources. PathCon has investigated numerous Legionnaires disease outbreaks and has implemented effective Legionella control in numerous outbreak settings. PathCon scientists have also been involved in planning routine environmental sampling for preventive maintenance purposes. Our experts can assist with a cooling tower treatment that is right for you.

PathCon provides coliform testing of water and other environmental samples. PathCon can provide microbiological media for air sampling and supplies for bulk and water sampling for coliform bacteria. Many of our scientists have decades of experience in the identification of fungi and bacteria. One-third of them have advanced degrees, and about 95% have B.S. degrees. Testing is performed with great speed and accuracy. Positive isolates are confirmed by further biochemical testing. Our experts can assist with coliform testing problems in a timely and innovative manner.

PathCon provided Bacillus anthracis testing of over 5,000 samples in late 2001 and early 2002. Anthrax-laced letters were sent by U.S. mail following the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC. All positive isolates were confirmed by CDC or FBI laboratories. Laboratory services include Bacillus anthracis testing of dry swab samples and other microbiological analysis from both office and industrial-type settings. PathCon scientists were formerly scientists at the CDC with many years experience. Our experts can perform high quality Bacillus anthracis testing in a timely and efficient manner.

PathCon scientists can assist companies with avian flu preparation and safety services. In light of the possibility that avian flu may reach the U.S. population, the private sector must take an active role in preparation. PathCon consultants can assist companies in development of avian flu prevention and emergency response procedures. Several of PathCon’s experts formerly held important positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as other respected health organizations and associations. Our experts can assist with avian flu preparation in a timely and innovative manner.

PathCon provided anthrax testing of over 5,000 samples in late 2001 and early 2002. Anthrax-laced letters were sent by U.S. mail following the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC. All positive isolates were confirmed by CDC or FBI laboratories. Laboratory services include anthrax testing of dry swab samples and other microbiological analysis from both office and industrial-type settings. PathCon offers materials and analysis for bulk and swab samples. Our experts can perform high quality anthrax testing in a timely and efficient manner.

PathCon provides support for clients who choose Air-O-Cell sampling cassettes for their building investigations. PathCon supports industrial hygienists, environmental health professionals and other individuals with investigations of building-related health complaints. The Air-O-Cell is a unique air sampling cassette specifically designed for the rapid collection of a wide range of airborne aerosols including mold spores, pollen, insect parts, skin cell fragments, fibers (e.g. asbestos, fiberglass, cellulose, clothing fibers, etc.) and inorganic particulate (e.g. ceramic, fly ash, copy toner, etc.). PathCon can ship the easy to use Air-O-Cell cassettes and provide a quick turnaround time for laboratory analysis. Our experts can assist with microbiological sampling using the Air-O-Cell cassettes.

We are an AIHA accredited laboratory which provides microbiological analysis of air, bulk and water samples. PathCon has an extensive national database categorized by geographical regions and by seasons of the year which serves as a basis to assess the relevance of levels and types of fungi in indoor and outdoor settings. Our AIHA accredited laboratory services include microbiological analysis of air, bulk and water samples from both office and industrial-type settings. PathCon supports industrial hygienists, building engineers, environmental health professionals and other individuals responsible for investigation of building-related health complaints with our AIHA accredited laboratory services.