Principle

The Mycometer®-test quantifies the amount of mold (fungal biomass) by quantifying the activity of an enzyme (β-N-acetylhexosaminidase) which is found in all molds.

The enzyme activity is determined by making use of sensitive fluorescence technology. The enzyme cleaves an enzyme substrates which releases a fluorogenic compound, the concentration of which can be measured in a handheld fluorometer. 

The enzyme activity has been shown to correlate well with the fungal biomass, both determined by weighing or by quantifying ergosterol. The results were published in the peer reviewed Journal “Applied and Environmental Microbiology” which is one of  the most well reputed journals on applied microbiology.

The enzyme activity is present in all living mold. In most cases it is also present in dead mold cells although the enzyme activity per mold biomass unit seems to be reduced with ageing. Killing mold with a biocide normally does not significantly reduce the signal even though no colonies will occur using cultivation methods. As dead mold are considered being as potentially health damaging as living mold this is an important quality of the Mycometer®-test.