Asbestos Testing Take Home Kit

If you are at all uncomfortable with the risks involved, we strongly recommend using a professional. Improper handling of asbestos material can create more of a hazard than if it is left undisturbed as taking a sample may involve breaking, cutting, or cracking material which may release the dangerous fibers into the air.

Selecting a Asbestos Take-Home Testing Kit

Do a background check on the Asbestos testing lab service and check the box or website for the accuracy and sensitivity of the test. The EPA offers clear guidelines and certifications to Asbestos testing laboratories--look for an EPA certification. Most Asbestos testing services should be able to send you results in 2-3 weeks (in the meantime, you should assume that the area you suspect IS asbestos and take necessary precautions). Often, you can pay more for rush delivery.

Be prepared to spend $20 - $40 per sample. You can easily order these kits online.

Removing a Sample for the Asbestos Testing Kit

Be very careful when taking a sample of a material that may be asbestos. Keep in mind that asbestos becomes dangerous when it is broken and the microscopic fibers become airborne (the fibers are about 1/1200th the thickness of a hair). To take a sample of the friable material:

• Only the person taking the sample should be in the room. That person should be wearing rubber gloves.
• Shut down air conditioning, fans, or any other ventilation systems that would blow fibers around.
• Before you begin, prepare the material by wetting it lightly. Wet fibers are much less likely to become airborne than dry ones.
• Do not disturb the material any more than is required to take a small sample.
• The sample should include the full depth of the dampened material, though should be quite small.
• Store the sample in a clean sample container (35mm film canister, small glass, plastic vial, or whatever container comes in the kit).
• After the sample is in the container - tightly seal it.
• Use a damp paper towel to clean up any material on the outside of the container or spilled onto the floor.
• Label the container - the label should contain an identification number and clearly indicate when and where the sample was taken.
• A sample should be taken for each different appearing suspect material. For a ceiling surface in a large room, two samples may be required to give an accurate determination of asbestos content.
• Cover the hole created by removing the sample with a small piece of duct tape to prevent further spread of fibers.

If the test comes back positive, you should start searching for a professional contractor to help you repair or remove the asbestos.