D22.08 - Assessment, Sampling, and Analysis of Microorganisms

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide presents options for a systematic assessment of fungal growth in buildings.  
5.2 This guide allows for site-specific flexibility and professional judgment in the choice of assessment procedures. It may not be necessary to perform in its entirety the basic assessment presented below to resolve a particular problem, for example, where fungal growth is localized and the source and extent of moisture is readily observable.  
5.3 Conversely, no matter how comprehensive the survey, all fungal growth may not be identified or located in a fungal assessment.  
5.4 Material removal or destructive investigation may be needed to access suspect surfaces.  
5.5 Using the procedures described in this guide, the investigator may have obtained the data necessary to suggest specific recommendations, for example, how to remediate the observed fungal growth, or how to prevent further fungal growth, but those recommendations are beyond the scope of this guide.  
5.6 Precautions may be needed to protect the assessor and building occupants where access may disturb fungal growth.  
5.7 It is the user’s responsibility to protect information that may be considered confidential, or private, or both, in accordance with project contract, corporate protocol, or local, state, and federal regulations, or a combination thereof.  
5.8 It may be necessary to enlist other disciplines or trade expertise to assist in some steps of the assessment, but recommendations of when to enlist and whom to enlist are beyond the scope of this guide.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides a compendium of information and a menu of options for assessment of fungal growth in buildings, but does not recommend a specific course of action. Due to the wide variety of fungal problems affecting buildings and their occupants, and the wide variety of buildings, it is not possible to describe a set of uniform steps that will always be performed during an assessment (that is, a standard practice); therefore the user of this guide must decide which steps are appropriate for a given situation or building.  
1.2 This guide is specific to fungal growth, which is only one potential problem in a building environment. It may be part of, but is not intended to take the place of, a comprehensive indoor air quality investigation.  
1.3 This guide describes minimum steps and procedures for collecting background information on a building in question, procedures for evaluating the potential for moisture infiltration or collection, procedures for inspection for suspect fungal growth, and procedures beyond the scope of a basic survey that may be useful for specific problems.  
1.4 Assessments for fungal growth may be useful wherever fungal growth is suspected, excess moisture has been present or when there are concerns regarding potential fungal growth.  
1.5 Periodic fungal assessment in buildings may be a component of preventative maintenance programs.  
1.6 This guide is applicable to buildings including residential (for example, single or multi-family), institutional (for example, schools, hospitals), government, public assembly, commercial (for example, office, retail), and industrial facilities.  
1.7 Recommendations for developing a sampling strategy or methods for the collection and analysis of fungal samples are beyond the scope of this guide. For recommendations for developing a sampling strategy, see Ref (1)2, Chapter 10.  
1.8 Recommendations for remediation of fungal growth are beyond the scope of this guide.  
1.9 This guide is not intended to supersede any government regulations governing the assessment of fungal growth in buildings.  
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use...

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The static chambers have several different applications:  
4.1.1 The static chambers can be used to compare the susceptibility of different materials to the colonization and amplification of various microorganisms under defined conditions.  
4.1.2 Chambers operated at high relative humidities may be used to perform worst case scenario screening tests on materials by providing an atmosphere where environmental conditions may be favorable for microbial growth.  
4.1.3 Use of multiple chambers with different environmental parameters, such as a range of relative humidities, permits the evaluation of multiple microenvironments and allows investigation of materials under differing environmental conditions.  
4.1.4 Drying requirements for wetted materials may also be investigated. This information may be relevant for determining material resistance to microbial growth after becoming wet. These conditions may simulate those where materials are subjected to water incursion through leaks as well as during remediation of a building after a fire.  
4.1.5 Growth rates of microorganisms on the material may also be investigated. Once it has been established that organisms are able to grow on a particular material under defined conditions, investigations into the rate of organism growth may be performed. These evaluations provide base line information and can be used to evaluate methods to limit or contain amplification of microorganisms.  
4.2 These techniques should be performed by personnel with training in microbiology. The individual must be competent in the use of sterile technique, which is critical to exclude external contamination of materials.
SCOPE
1.1 Many different types of microorganisms (for example, bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae) can occupy indoor spaces. Materials that support microbial growth are potential indoor sources of biocontaminants (for example, spores and toxins) that can become airborne indoor biopollutants. This guide describes a simple, relatively cost effective approach to evaluating the ability of a variety of materials to support microbial growth using a small chamber method.  
1.2 This guide is intended to assist groups in the development of specific test methods for a definite material or groups of materials.  
1.3 Static chambers have certain limitations. Usually, only small samples of indoor materials can be evaluated. Care must be taken that these samples are representative of the materials being tested so that a true evaluation of the material is performed.  
1.4 Static chambers provide controlled laboratory microenvironment conditions. These chambers are not intended to duplicate room conditions, and care must be taken when interpreting the results. Static chambers are not a substitute for dynamic chambers or field studies.  
1.5 A variety of microorganisms, specifically bacteria and fungi, can be evaluated using these chambers. This guide is not intended to provide human health effect data. However, organisms of clinical interest, such as those described as potentially allergenic, may be studied using this approach.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is intended for the collection of airborne fungal spores or fragments, or both, using inertial impaction.  
4.2 It is the responsibility of the user to assure that they are in compliance with all local, state and federal regulations governing the inspection of buildings for fungal colonization and the collection of associated samples.  
4.3 This practice is intended to provide the user with a basic understanding of the equipment, materials and instructions necessary to effectively collect air samples using an inertial impactor.  
4.4 This practice, when properly executed, may also be used for the evaluation of other types of airborne particles with the capturing characteristics appropriate for inertial impactor, and for which appropriate analytical methods exist. Such particles may include dust mites, skin cells, pollen, and other materials.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to describe procedures for the collection of airborne fungal spores or fragments, or both, using inertial impaction sampling techniques.  
1.2 This practice is not intended to limit the user from the collection of other airborne particulates that may be of interest and captured through this technique.  
1.3 This practice presumes that the user has a fundamental understanding of field investigative techniques related to the scientific process, and sampling plan development and implementation. It is important to establish the related hypothesis to be tested and the supporting analytical methodology needed in order to identify the sampling media to be used and the laboratory conditions for analysis.  
1.4 This practice does not address the development of a formal hypothesis or the establishment of appropriate and defensible investigation and sampling objectives. It is presumed the investigator has the experience and knowledge base to address these issues.  
1.5 This practice does not provide the user sufficient information to allow for interpretation of the analytical results from sample collection. It is the user's responsibility to seek or obtain the information and knowledge necessary to interpret the sample results reported by the laboratory.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice provides a procedure for collecting surface material using a sterile swab.  
4.2 A swab sample collected according to this practice is intended to be used to assess fungal material on surfaces.  
4.3 A swab sample collected from an area with defined dimensions can be used to quantify fungal material per unit area or for qualitative analysis.  
4.4 A swab sample collected from point(s) of interest can be used for qualitative analysis or to quantify fungal material per sample.  
4.5 A swab sample collected according to this practice can be analyzed by direct microscopy, culture, or biochemical analysis.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to describe the procedures for collection of surface samples using sterile swabs.  
1.2 The purpose of this practice is to support the field investigator in differentiating fungal materials from non-fungal material such as scuffs, soot deposits, stains, pigments, dust, efflorescence, adhesives, dust, and water stains.  
1.3 This practice does not address building occupant exposures, or occupant health risks.  
1.4 The samples collected by this practice are appropriate for culture, direct microscopy, and biochemical analysis, or combination thereof.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The significance of this test method is to standardize the analysis of the detection of removable fungal structures lifted from a surface with tape to improve consistency between laboratories and analysts.  
5.2 This test method is intended to ensure consistent data to the end user.  
5.3 Fungal structures are identified and semi-quantified regardless of whether they would or would not grow in culture.  
5.4 It must be emphasized that the detector in this test method is the analyst, and therefore results are subjective, depending on the experience, training, qualification, optical acuity, and mental fatigue of the analyst.  
5.5 This test method can be used to assess the presence and characteristics of fungal material on a surface.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method uses optical microscopy for the detection, semi-quantification, and identification of fungal structures in tape lift preparations.  
1.2 This test method describes the preparation techniques for tape-lift matrices, the procedure for confirming the presence of fungal structures, and the reporting of observed fungal structures  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice defines a consistent procedure for collecting surface material using clear, transparent, single sided adhesive collection medium, typically tape (also known as tape lift).  
4.2 A tape lift sample collected according to this practice is intended to be used to assess the material present at one specific location on a surface for fungal content.  
4.3 A tape lift sample collected from a point of interest can be used for qualitative analysis or to quantify fungal material per sample or per unit area. Note that the recovery efficiency of material from the surface sampled is unknown and a likely source of uncertainty for quantitative analyses.  
4.4 A tape lift sample collected according to this practice can be analyzed by direct microscopy.  
4.5 This practice may help supplement consistency in mold sampling during an indoor air quality investigation.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes the protocols for collection of surface samples using tape lifts and their delivery to the laboratory.  
1.2 The purpose of this practice is to support the field investigator in differentiating fungal materials from non-fungal material such as scuffs, soot deposits, stains, pigments, dust, efflorescence, adhesives, and water stains.  
1.3 The samples collected by this practice are appropriate for either qualitative or quantitative analysis by direct microscopy.  
1.4 This practice does not address building occupant exposures, or occupant health risks.  
1.5 This practice does not address the development of a formal hypothesis or the establishment of sampling objectives.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is used to estimate and categorize the number and type of fungal structures present on an inertial impactor sample.  
5.2 Fungal structures are identified and quantified regardless of whether they would or would not grow in culture.  
5.3 It must be emphasized that the detector in this test method is the analyst, and therefore results are subjective, depending on the experience, training, qualification, and mental and optical fatigue of the analyst.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is a procedure that uses direct microscopy to analyze the deposit on an inertial impaction sample.  
1.2 This test method describes procedures for categorizing and enumerating fungal structures by morphological type. Typically, categories may be as small as genus (for example, Cladosporium) or as large as phylum (for example, basidiospores).  
1.3 This test method contains two procedures for enumerating fungal structures: one for slit impaction samples and one for circular impaction samples. This test method is applicable for impaction air samples, for which a known volume of air (at a rate as recommended by the manufacturer) has been drawn, and is also applicable for blank impaction samples.  
1.4 Enumeration results are presented in fungal structures/sample (fs/sample) and fungal structures/m3 (fs/m3).  
1.5 The range of enumeration results that can be determined with this test method depends on the size of the spores on the sample trace, the amount of particulate matter on the sample trace, the percentage of the sample trace counted, and the volume of air sampled.  
1.6 This test method addresses only the analysis of samples. The sampling process and interpretation of results is outside the scope of this test method.  
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is intended for the collection of airborne particles on agar plates using inertial impaction for the purpose of culturing fungi or bacteria.  
4.2 This practice is valuable when species level identification or quantity of culturable aerosolized fungi and bacteria are important factors for the indoor air quality investigation.  
4.3 It is the responsibility of the user to assure that they are in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations governing the inspection of buildings for fungal and bacterial colonization and the collection of associated samples.  
4.4 This practice is intended to provide the user with a basic understanding of the equipment, materials, and instructions necessary to effectively collect air samples on agar plates using an inertial impactor.  
4.5 This practice is intended to minimize systematic sampling variations between different data sets.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to describe procedures for the collection of culturable airborne fungal spores or fragments or bacteria on agar plates using inertial impaction sampling techniques.  
1.2 This practice does not include collection of culturable fungi or bacteria by devices not using agar plates.  
1.3 This practice presumes that the user has a fundamental understanding of field investigative techniques related to the scientific process, and sampling plan development and implementation. It is important to establish the related hypothesis to be tested and the supporting analytical methodology needed in order to identify the sampling media to be used and the laboratory conditions for analysis.  
1.4 This practice does not address the development of a formal hypothesis or the establishment of appropriate and defensible investigation and sampling objectives. It is presumed the investigator has the experience and knowledge base to address these issues.  
1.5 This practice does not provide the user sufficient information to allow for interpretation of the analytical results from sample collection. It is the user's responsibility to seek or obtain the information and knowledge necessary to interpret the sample results reported by the laboratory.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice provides a procedure for collecting surface material using a sterile swab.  
4.2 A swab sample collected according to this practice is intended to be used to assess fungal material on surfaces.  
4.3 A swab sample collected from an area with defined dimensions can be used to quantify fungal material per unit area or for qualitative analysis.  
4.4 A swab sample collected from point(s) of interest can be used for qualitative analysis or to quantify fungal material per sample.  
4.5 A swab sample collected according to this practice can be analyzed by direct microscopy, culture, or biochemical analysis.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to describe the procedures for collection of surface samples using sterile swabs.  
1.2 The purpose of this practice is to support the field investigator in differentiating fungal materials from non-fungal material such as scuffs, soot deposits, stains, pigments, dust, efflorescence, adhesives, dust, and water stains.  
1.3 This practice does not address building occupant exposures, or occupant health risks.  
1.4 The samples collected by this practice are appropriate for culture, direct microscopy, and biochemical analysis, or combination thereof.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is intended for the collection of airborne particles on agar plates using inertial impaction for the purpose of culturing fungi or bacteria.  
4.2 This practice is valuable when species level identification or quantity of culturable aerosolized fungi and bacteria are important factors for the indoor air quality investigation.  
4.3 It is the responsibility of the user to assure that they are in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations governing the inspection of buildings for fungal colonization and the collection of associated samples.  
4.4 This practice is intended to provide the user with a basic understanding of the equipment, materials, and instructions necessary to effectively collect air samples on agar plates using an inertial impactor.  
4.5 This practice is intended to minimize systematic sampling variations between different data sets.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to describe procedures for the collection of culturable airborne fungal spores or fragments or bacteria on agar plates using inertial impaction sampling techniques.  
1.2 This practice does not include collection of culturable fungi or bacteria by devices not using agar plates.  
1.3 This practice presumes that the user has a fundamental understanding of field investigative techniques related to the scientific process, and sampling plan development and implementation. It is important to establish the related hypothesis to be tested and the supporting analytical methodology needed in order to identify the sampling media to be used and the laboratory conditions for analysis.  
1.4 This practice does not address the development of a formal hypothesis or the establishment of appropriate and defensible investigation and sampling objectives. It is presumed the investigator has the experience and knowledge base to address these issues.  
1.5 This practice does not provide the user sufficient information to allow for interpretation of the analytical results from sample collection. It is the user's responsibility to seek or obtain the information and knowledge necessary to interpret the sample results reported by the laboratory.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is used to estimate and categorize the number and type of fungal structures present on an inertial impactor sample.  
5.2 Fungal structures are identified and quantified regardless of whether they would or would not grow in culture.  
5.3 It must be emphasized that the detector in this test method is the analyst, and therefore results are subjective, depending on the experience, training, qualification, and mental and optical fatigue of the analyst.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is a procedure that uses direct microscopy to analyze the deposit on an inertial impaction sample.  
1.2 This test method describes procedures for categorizing and enumerating fungal structures by morphological type. Typically, categories may be as small as genus (for example, Cladosporium) or as large as phylum (for example, basidiospores).  
1.3 This test method contains two procedures for enumerating fungal structures: one for slit impaction samples and one for circular impaction samples. This test method is applicable for impaction air samples, for which a known volume of air (at a rate as recommended by the manufacturer) has been drawn, and is also applicable for blank impaction samples.  
1.4 Enumeration results are presented in fungal structures/sample (fs/sample) and fungal structures/m3 (fs/m3).  
1.5 The range of enumeration results that can be determined with this test method depends on the size of the spores on the sample trace, the amount of particulate matter on the sample trace, the percentage of the sample trace counted, and the volume of air sampled.  
1.6 This test method addresses only the analysis of samples. The sampling process and interpretation of results is outside the scope of this test method.  
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is used to estimate and categorize the number and type of fungal structures present on an inertial impactor sample.  
5.2 Fungal structures are identified and quantified regardless of whether they would or would not grow in culture.  
5.3 It must be emphasized that the detector in this test method is the analyst, and therefore results are subjective, depending on the experience, training, qualification, and mental and optical fatigue of the analyst.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is a procedure that uses direct microscopy to analyze the deposit on an inertial impaction sample.  
1.2 This test method describes procedures for categorizing and enumerating fungal structures by morphological type. Typically, categories may be as small as genus (for example, Cladosporium) or as large as phylum (for example, basidiospores).  
1.3 This test method contains two procedures for enumerating fungal structures: one for slit impaction samples and one for circular impaction samples. This test method is applicable for impaction air samples, for which a known volume of air (at a rate as recommended by the manufacturer) has been drawn, and is also applicable for blank impaction samples.  
1.4 Enumeration results are presented in fungal structures/sample (fs/sample) and fungal structures/m3 (fs/m3).  
1.5 The range of enumeration results that can be determined with this test method depends on the size of the spores on the sample trace, the amount of particulate matter on the sample trace, the percentage of the sample trace counted, and the volume of air sampled.  
1.6 This test method addresses only the analysis of samples. The sampling process and interpretation of results is outside the scope of this test method.  
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The significance of this test method is to standardize the analysis of the detection of removable fungal structures lifted from a surface with tape to improve consistency between laboratories and analysts.  
5.2 This test method is intended to ensure consistent data to the end user.  
5.3 Fungal structures are identified and semi-quantified regardless of whether they would or would not grow in culture.  
5.4 It must be emphasized that the detector in this test method is the analyst, and therefore results are subjective, depending on the experience, training, qualification, optical acuity, and mental fatigue of the analyst.  
5.5 This test method can be used to assess the presence and characteristics of fungal material on a surface.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method uses optical microscopy for the detection, semi-quantification, and identification of fungal structures in tape lift preparations.  
1.2 This test method describes the preparation techniques for tape-lift matrices, the procedure for confirming the presence of fungal structures, and the reporting of observed fungal structures  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The static chambers have several different applications:  
4.1.1 The static chambers can be used to compare the susceptibility of different materials to the colonization and amplification of various microorganisms under defined conditions.  
4.1.2 Chambers operated at high relative humidities may be used to perform worst case scenario screening tests on materials by providing an atmosphere where environmental conditions may be favorable for microbial growth.  
4.1.3 Use of multiple chambers with different environmental parameters, such as a range of relative humidities, permits the evaluation of multiple microenvironments and allows investigation of materials under differing environmental conditions.  
4.1.4 Drying requirements for wetted materials may also be investigated. This information may be relevant for determining material resistance to microbial growth after becoming wet. These conditions may simulate those where materials are subjected to water incursion through leaks as well as during remediation of a building after a fire.  
4.1.5 Growth rates of microorganisms on the material may also be investigated. Once it has been established that organisms are able to grow on a particular material under defined conditions, investigations into the rate of organism growth may be performed. These evaluations provide base line information and can be used to evaluate methods to limit or contain amplification of microorganisms.  
4.2 These techniques should be performed by personnel with training in microbiology. The individual must be competent in the use of sterile technique, which is critical to exclude external contamination of materials.
SCOPE
1.1 Many different types of microorganisms (for example, bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae) can occupy indoor spaces. Materials that support microbial growth are potential indoor sources of biocontaminants (for example, spores and toxins) that can become airborne indoor biopollutants. This guide describes a simple, relatively cost effective approach to evaluating the ability of a variety of materials to support microbial growth using a small chamber method.  
1.2 This guide is intended to assist groups in the development of specific test methods for a definite material or groups of materials.  
1.3 Static chambers have certain limitations. Usually, only small samples of indoor materials can be evaluated. Care must be taken that these samples are representative of the materials being tested so that a true evaluation of the material is performed.  
1.4 Static chambers provide controlled laboratory microenvironment conditions. These chambers are not intended to duplicate room conditions, and care must be taken when interpreting the results. Static chambers are not a substitute for dynamic chambers or field studies.  
1.5 A variety of microorganisms, specifically bacteria and fungi, can be evaluated using these chambers. This guide is not intended to provide human health effect data. However, organisms of clinical interest, such as those described as potentially allergenic, may be studied using this approach.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide presents options for a systematic assessment of fungal growth in buildings.  
5.2 This guide allows for site-specific flexibility and professional judgment in the choice of assessment procedures. It may not be necessary to perform in its entirety the basic assessment presented below to resolve a particular problem, for example, where fungal growth is localized and the source and extent of moisture is readily observable.  
5.3 Conversely, no matter how comprehensive the survey, all fungal growth may not be identified or located in a fungal assessment.  
5.4 Material removal or destructive investigation may be needed to access suspect surfaces.  
5.5 Using the procedures described in this guide, the investigator may have obtained the data necessary to suggest specific recommendations, for example, how to remediate the observed fungal growth, or how to prevent further fungal growth, but those recommendations are beyond the scope of this guide.  
5.6 Precautions may be needed to protect the assessor and building occupants where access may disturb fungal growth.  
5.7 It is the user’s responsibility to protect information that may be considered confidential, or private, or both, in accordance with project contract, corporate protocol, or local, state, and federal regulations, or a combination thereof.  
5.8 It may be necessary to enlist other disciplines or trade expertise to assist in some steps of the assessment, but recommendations of when to enlist and whom to enlist are beyond the scope of this guide.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides a compendium of information and a menu of options for assessment of fungal growth in buildings, but does not recommend a specific course of action. Due to the wide variety of fungal problems affecting buildings and their occupants, and the wide variety of buildings, it is not possible to describe a set of uniform steps that will always be performed during an assessment (that is, a standard practice); therefore the user of this guide must decide which steps are appropriate for a given situation or building.  
1.2 This guide is specific to fungal growth, which is only one potential problem in a building environment. It may be part of, but is not intended to take the place of, a comprehensive indoor air quality investigation.  
1.3 This guide describes minimum steps and procedures for collecting background information on a building in question, procedures for evaluating the potential for moisture infiltration or collection, procedures for inspection for suspect fungal growth, and procedures beyond the scope of a basic survey that may be useful for specific problems.  
1.4 Assessments for fungal growth may be useful wherever fungal growth is suspected, excess moisture has been present or when there are concerns regarding potential fungal growth.  
1.5 Periodic fungal assessment in buildings may be a component of preventative maintenance programs.  
1.6 This guide is applicable to buildings including residential (for example, single or multi-family), institutional (for example, schools, hospitals), government, public assembly, commercial (for example, office, retail), and industrial facilities.  
1.7 Recommendations for developing a sampling strategy or methods for the collection and analysis of fungal samples are beyond the scope of this guide. For recommendations for developing a sampling strategy, see Ref (1)2, Chapter 10.  
1.8 Recommendations for remediation of fungal growth are beyond the scope of this guide.  
1.9 This guide is not intended to supersede any government regulations governing the assessment of fungal growth in buildings.  
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is intended for the collection of airborne fungal spores or fragments, or both, using inertial impaction.  
4.2 It is the responsibility of the user to assure that they are in compliance with all local, state and federal regulations governing the inspection of buildings for fungal colonization and the collection of associated samples.  
4.3 This practice is intended to provide the user with a basic understanding of the equipment, materials and instructions necessary to effectively collect air samples using an inertial impactor.  
4.4 This practice, when properly executed, may also be used for the evaluation of other types of airborne particles with the capturing characteristics appropriate for inertial impactor, and for which appropriate analytical methods exist. Such particles may include dust mites, skin cells, pollen, and other materials.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to describe procedures for the collection of airborne fungal spores or fragments, or both, using inertial impaction sampling techniques.  
1.2 This practice is not intended to limit the user from the collection of other airborne particulates that may be of interest and captured through this technique.  
1.3 This practice presumes that the user has a fundamental understanding of field investigative techniques related to the scientific process, and sampling plan development and implementation. It is important to establish the related hypothesis to be tested and the supporting analytical methodology needed in order to identify the sampling media to be used and the laboratory conditions for analysis.  
1.4 This practice does not address the development of a formal hypothesis or the establishment of appropriate and defensible investigation and sampling objectives. It is presumed the investigator has the experience and knowledge base to address these issues.  
1.5 This practice does not provide the user sufficient information to allow for interpretation of the analytical results from sample collection. It is the user's responsibility to seek or obtain the information and knowledge necessary to interpret the sample results reported by the laboratory.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice defines a consistent procedure for collecting surface material using clear, transparent, single sided adhesive collection medium, typically tape (also known as tape lift).  
4.2 A tape lift sample collected according to this practice is intended to be used to assess the material present at one specific location on a surface for fungal content.  
4.3 A tape lift sample collected from a point of interest can be used for qualitative analysis or to quantify fungal material per sample or per unit area. Note that the recovery efficiency of material from the surface sampled is unknown and a likely source of uncertainty for quantitative analyses.  
4.4 A tape lift sample collected according to this practice can be analyzed by direct microscopy.  
4.5 This practice may help supplement consistency in mold sampling during an indoor air quality investigation.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes the protocols for collection of surface samples using tape lifts and their delivery to the laboratory.  
1.2 The purpose of this practice is to support the field investigator in differentiating fungal materials from non-fungal material such as scuffs, soot deposits, stains, pigments, dust, efflorescence, adhesives, and water stains.  
1.3 The samples collected by this practice are appropriate for either qualitative or quantitative analysis by direct microscopy.  
1.4 This practice does not address building occupant exposures, or occupant health risks.  
1.5 This practice does not address the development of a formal hypothesis or the establishment of sampling objectives.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice provides a procedure for collecting surface material using a sterile swab.  
4.2 A swab sample collected according to this practice is intended to be used to assess fungal material on surfaces.  
4.3 A swab sample collected from an area with defined dimensions can be used to quantify fungal material per unit area or for qualitative analysis.  
4.4 A swab sample collected from point(s) of interest can be used for qualitative analysis or to quantify fungal material per sample.  
4.5 A swab sample collected according to this standard practice can be analyzed by direct microscopy, culture, or biochemical analysis.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this standard practice is to describe the procedures for collection of surface samples using sterile swabs.  
1.2 The purpose of this standard practice is to support the field investigator in differentiating fungal materials from non-fungal material such as scuffs, soot deposits, stains, pigments, dust, efflorescence, adhesives, dust, and water stains.  
1.3 This practice does not address building occupant exposures, or occupant health risks.  
1.4 The samples collected by this practice are appropriate for culture, direct microscopy, and/or biochemical analysis.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide presents options for a systematic assessment of fungal growth in buildings.
This guide allows for site-specific flexibility and professional judgment in the choice of assessment procedures. It may not be necessary to perform in its entirety the basic assessment presented below to resolve a particular problem, for example, where fungal growth is localized and the source and extent of moisture is readily observable.
Conversely, no matter how comprehensive the survey, all fungal growth may not be identified or located in a fungal assessment.
Material removal or destructive investigation may be needed to access suspect surfaces.
Using the procedures described in this guide, the investigator may have obtained the data necessary to suggest specific recommendations, for example, how to remediate the observed fungal growth, or how to prevent further fungal growth, but those recommendations are beyond the scope of this guide.
Precautions may be needed to protect the assessor and building occupants where access may disturb fungal growth.
It is the user’s responsibility to protect information that may be considered confidential, or private, or both, in accordance with project contract, corporate protocol, or local, state, and federal regulations, or a combination thereof.
It may be necessary to enlist other disciplines or trade expertise to assist in some steps of the assessment, but recommendations of when to enlist and whom to enlist are beyond the scope of this guide.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides a compendium of information and a menu of options for assessment of fungal growth in buildings, but does not recommend a specific course of action. Due to the wide variety of fungal problems affecting buildings and their occupants, and the wide variety of buildings, it is not possible to describe a set of uniform steps that will always be performed during an assessment (that is, a standard practice); therefore the user of this guide must decide which steps are appropriate for a given situation or building.
1.2 This guide is specific to fungal growth, which is only one potential problem in a building environment. It may be part of, but is not intended to take the place of, a comprehensive indoor air quality investigation.
1.3 This guide describes minimum steps and procedures for collecting background information on a building in question, procedures for evaluating the potential for moisture infiltration or collection, procedures for inspection for suspect fungal growth, and procedures beyond the scope of a basic survey that may be useful for specific problems.
1.4 Assessments for fungal growth may be useful wherever fungal growth is suspected, excess moisture has been present or when there are concerns regarding potential fungal growth.
1.5 Periodic fungal assessment in buildings may be a component of preventative maintenance programs.
1.6 This guide is applicable to buildings including residential (for example, single or multi-family), institutional (for example, schools, hospitals), government, public assembly, commercial (for example, office, retail), and industrial facilities.
1.7 Recommendations for developing a sampling strategy or methods for the collection and analysis of fungal samples are beyond the scope of this guide. For recommendations for developing a sampling strategy, see Ref (27) , Chapter 10.
1.8 Recommendations for remediation of fungal growth are beyond the scope of this guide.
1.9 This guide is not intended to supersede any government regulations governing the assessment of fungal growth in buildings.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is used to estimate and categorize the number and type of fungal structures present on an inertial impactor sample.
Fungal structures are identified and quantified regardless of whether they would or would not grow in culture.
It must be emphasized that the detector in this method is the analyst, and therefore results are subjective, depending on the experience, training, qualification, and mental and optical fatigue of the analyst.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is a procedure that uses direct microscopy to analyze the deposit on an inertial impaction sample.
1.2 This test method describes procedures for categorizing and enumerating fungal structures by morphological type. Typically, categories may be as small as genus (for example, Cladosporium) or as large as phylum (for example, basidiospores).
1.3 This method contains two procedures for enumerating fungal structures: one for slit impaction samples and one for circular impaction samples. This test method is applicable for impaction air samples, for which a known volume of air (at a rate as recommended by the manufacturer) has been drawn, and is also applicable for blank impaction samples.
1.4 Enumeration results are presented in fungal structures/sample (fs/sample) and fungal structures/m3 (fs/m3).
1.5 The range of enumeration results that can be determined with this method depends on the size of the spores on the sample trace, the amount of particulate matter on the sample trace, the percentage of the sample trace counted, and the volume of air sampled.
1.6 This method addresses only the analysis of samples. The sampling process and interpretation of results is outside the scope of this method.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The static chambers have several different applications:
4.1.1 The static chambers can be used to compare the susceptibility of different materials to the colonization and amplification of various microorganisms under defined conditions.
4.1.2 Chambers operated at high relative humidities may be used to perform worst case scenario screening tests on materials by providing an atmosphere where environmental conditions may be favorable for microbial growth.
4.1.3 Use of multiple chambers with different environmental parameters, such as a range of relative humidities, permits the evaluation of multiple microenvironments and allows investigation of materials under differing environmental conditions.
4.1.4 Drying requirements for wetted materials may also be investigated. This information may be relevant for determining material resistance to microbial growth after becoming wet. These conditions may simulate those where materials are subjected to water incursion through leaks as well as during remediation of a building after a fire.
4.1.5 Growth rates of microorganisms on the material may also be investigated. Once it has been established that organisms are able to grow on a particular material under defined conditions, investigations into the rate of organism growth may be performed. These evaluations provide base line information and can be used to evaluate methods to limit or contain amplification of microorganisms.
These techniques should be performed by personnel with training in microbiology. The individual must be competent in the use of sterile technique, which is critical to exclude external contamination of materials.
SCOPE
1.1 Many different types of microorganisms (for example, bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae) can occupy indoor spaces. Materials that support microbial growth are potential indoor sources of biocontaminants (for example, spores and toxins) that can become airborne indoor biopollutants. This guide describes a simple, relatively cost effective approach to evaluating the ability of a variety of materials to support microbial growth using a small chamber method.
1.2 This guide is intended to assist groups in the development of specific test methods for a definite material or groups of materials.
1.3 Static chambers have certain limitations. Usually, only small samples of indoor materials can be evaluated. Care must be taken that these samples are representative of the materials being tested so that a true evaluation of the material is performed.
1.4 Static chambers provide controlled laboratory microenvironment conditions. These chambers are not intended to duplicate room conditions, and care must be taken when interpreting the results. Static chambers are not a substitute for dynamic chambers or field studies.
1.5 A variety of microorganisms, specifically bacteria and fungi, can be evaluated using these chambers. This guide is not intended to provide human health effect data. However, organisms of clinical interest, such as those described as potentially allergenic, may be studied using this approach.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Water systems may be inspected (see Section 7) and tested (see Section 8) for legionella under three circumstances (1) in the absence of reported legionellosis (see 5.2); (2) when a single legionellosis case has been reported (see 5.3); and (3) when two or more legionellosis cases are reported in a limited time period and geographic region (see 5.4). Following are factors building owners and operators need to understand when considering testing water systems for legionella in the absence of illness (see 5.2) and for single legionellosis cases (see 5.3). Refer also to the CDC 2003 Guidelines for Preventing Health-Care Associated Pneumonia, and the CDC 2000 Guidelines for Preventing Opportunistic Infections Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients, and the WHO Legionella and the Prevention of Legionellosis. Detection of legionella in a water system is not sufficient to identify the system as a health hazard. However, failure to detect legionella does not indicate, conclusively, that the bacterium is not present (see 6.2.4) or that the water system may not pose a potential health hazard. Methods to detect legionella vary in sensitivity and specificity (see 6.2), and laboratories vary in their skill and experience in the isolation and identification of legionella. Isolation of apparently identical legionellae from clinical and environmental samples (see 6.2.1, 6.6.2.4, and Section 8) may suggest that a water system was the source of the legionella responsible for a patient's infection (see 5.3.2). However, cases of Legionnaires' disease due to different legionella serogroups or species need not necessarily have different sources of exposure because a system may be contaminated by more than one legionella. Timely inspection, testing, and treatment of possible legionella sources may reduce legal liabilities for facility owners and operators. Refer also to the APHA Public Health Law Manual.
Environmental Testing for Legionella in the Absence of Illness:  
Con...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, health and safety professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1) to a concern that a water system may be contaminated with the bacterium known as legionella (see 6.1); and (2) to the identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever (see 6.3-6.5). Comprehensive and explicit recommendations to limit legionella multiplication in water systems, disinfect potential sources of human exposure to legionella, and prevent health-care associated infections are beyond this guide's scope.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for specific hazard statements.

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, health and safety professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1) to a concern that a manmade water system may be contaminated with the bacteria known as legionellae (see 6.1); and (2) to the identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever due to inhalation of airborne legionellae (see 6.3-6.5). Comprehensive and explicit recommendations to limit legionella multiplication in water systems and to disinfect potential sources of human exposure to legionellae are beyond this guide's scope.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for specific hazard statements.

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, health and safety professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1) to a concern that a manmade water system may be contaminated with the bacteria known as legionellae (see 6.1); and (2) to the identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever due to inhalation of airborne legionellae (see 6.3-6.5). Comprehensive and explicit recommendations to limit legionella multiplication in water systems and to disinfect potential sources of human exposure to legionellae are beyond this guide's scope.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for specific hazard statements.

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, health and safety professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1) to a concern that a manmade water system may be contaminated with the bacteria known as legionellae (see 6.1); and (2) to the identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever due to inhalation of airborne legionellae (see 6.3-6.5). Comprehensive and explicit recommendations to limit legionella multiplication in water systems and to disinfect potential sources of human exposure to legionellae are beyond this guide's scope.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for specific hazard statements.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Water systems may be inspected (see Section 7) and tested (see Section 8) for legionella under three circumstances (1) in the absence of reported legionellosis (see 5.2); (2) when a single legionellosis case has been reported (see 5.3); and (3) when two or more legionellosis cases are reported in a limited time period and geographic region (see 5.4). Following are factors building owners and operators need to understand when considering testing water systems for legionella in the absence of illness (see 5.2) and for single legionellosis cases (see 5.3). Refer also to the CDC 2003 Guidelines for Preventing Health-Care Associated Pneumonia, and the CDC 2000 Guidelines for Preventing Opportunistic Infections Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients, and the WHO Legionella and the Prevention of Legionellosis. Detection of legionella in a water system is not sufficient to identify the system as a health hazard. However, failure to detect legionella does not indicate, conclusively, that the bacterium is not present (see 6.2.4) or that the water system may not pose a potential health hazard. Methods to detect legionella vary in sensitivity and specificity (see 6.2), and laboratories vary in their skill and experience in the isolation and identification of legionella. Isolation of apparently identical legionellae from clinical and environmental samples (see 6.2.1, 6.6.2.4, and Section 8) may suggest that a water system was the source of the legionella responsible for a patient's infection (see 5.3.2). However, cases of Legionnaires' disease due to different legionella serogroups or species need not necessarily have different sources of exposure because a system may be contaminated by more than one legionella. Timely inspection, testing, and treatment of possible legionella sources may reduce legal liabilities for facility owners and operators. Refer also to the APHA Public Health Law Manual.  
5.2 Environmental Testing for Legionella in the Absence of Illnes...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, health and safety professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1) to a concern that a water system may be contaminated with the bacterium known as legionella (see 6.1); and (2) to the identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever (see 6.3 – 6.5). Comprehensive and explicit recommendations to limit legionella multiplication in water systems, disinfect potential sources of human exposure to legionella, and prevent health-care associated infections are beyond this guide's scope.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for specific hazard statements.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This guide covers appropriate responses for employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, health and safety professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1) to a concern that a water system may be contaminated with the bacterium known as legionella; and (2) to the identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D22 on Air Quality, this guide was withdrawn in January 2024 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Bacteria and fungi present in municipal solid wastes (as well as in other forms of waste) may become airborne as dusts during waste processing. Several investigations to determine the health significance of these microbiological aerosols have been hindered by the lack of standardized procedures for sampling airborne bacteria and fungi in an industrial environment and by the absence of standards for assessing their health significance. Because it is difficult to correlate airborne levels of bacteria and fungi with epidemiological data, this standard is designed to permit the formation of a data base to aid in the assessment of the health significance of airborne microorganisms. It is intended that the use of this practice will improve sampling precision and thereby facilitate comparisons between sampling results.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers sampling of airborne microorganisms at municipal solid-waste processing facilities, hereafter referred to as facilities. Investigators should consult Practice D1357 for the general principles of conducting an air-sampling program.  
1.2 This practice applies only to sampling airborne bacteria and fungi, not viruses. Since sampling airborne viruses is significantly more difficult than sampling bacteria and fungi, reliable methods of sampling viruses are not yet available.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This practice covers sampling of airborne microorganisms at municipal solid-waste processing facilities, hereafter referred to as facilities.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D22 on Air Quality, this practice was withdrawn in January 2021 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.