ERMI ULTRA (ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIVE MOULDINESS INDEX) - DUST ANALYSIS FOR MOULD SPECIES INCLUDING FREE HERTSMI 2

Our most advanced mould assessment using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

The ERMI Ultra includes everything from the standard ERMI, giving you the complete EPA-style 36-species panel (26 water-damage indicator moulds + 10 common environmental species), along with a FREE HERTSMI-2 score used by many clinicians supporting individuals with mould-related illnesses such as CIRS.

Where ERMI Ultra differs is in its advanced analytical method.

What ERMI Ultra Adds

ERMI Ultra uses Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify and quantify all detectable fungal DNA present in the dust sample, providing a far deeper picture of the indoor microbiome than the fixed ERMI or ERMI Plus panels.

This NGS method extends detection to a much wider range of fungal genera and species, including but not limited to:

• Aspergillus (full detectable species profile)
• Penicillium
• Fusarium
• Candida
• Trichoderma
• Additional fungal taxa often associated with water damage, moisture problems, and indoor environmental health concerns
  

The result is a comprehensive fungal profile, providing valuable insight into species known to produce toxins, trigger inflammatory responses, or indicate hidden moisture problems — all based on what NGS technology can reliably detect within the sample.

Why Choose ERMI Ultra?

ERMI Ultra is recommended for:

• Complex health cases (CIRS, MCAS, chronic symptoms, environmental sensitivities)
• Post-remediation verification when maximum certainty is needed
• Properties with persistent moisture or hidden mould concerns
• Practitioners requiring extended fungal data for clinical decision-making
• Clients wanting a complete, technology-driven overview of their indoor fungal ecology

This advanced NGS analysis detects a wide range of fungal genera and species present in your dust sample.

Unlike the fixed 36-species ERMI panel, NGS identifies all detectable fungal DNA, providing an extensive indoor fungal profile.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Aspergillus (extremely broad species coverage, including A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, A. versicolor, and many more)
• Penicillium species (extensive range, including P. chrysogenum, P. roquefortii, P. expansum, etc.)
• Fusarium species (such as F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, etc.)
• Candida species (including C. albicans, C. auris, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, etc.)
• Cladosporium species
• Chaetomium (including C. globosum)
• Trichoderma species
• Stachybotrys chartarum
• Wallemia sebi
• Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Paecilomyces, Scopulariopsis, Mucorales, and other medically or environmentally relevant fungi
  

NGS technology detects all identifiable fungal DNA in your sample, including rare, water-damage-associated, toxigenic, allergenic, and environmentally significant species.

• Swiffer (for taking the dust sample)
• Ziplock bag
• Instructions for the test, Gloves, and a Chain of Custody (which needs to be completed for our Laboratories)

The kit includes one Swiffer cloth. This counts as one test.

Do not cut the Swiffer — cutting it creates multiple samples, which would be charged as additional tests by the lab, and may delay sending your sample until you confirm whether you want to proceed with multiple tests.

For best accuracy, use one Swiffer per room, but we understand this isn’t always practical or necessary if your goal is simply to confirm whether there is a problem within the property. You can use a single Swiffer across multiple rooms, but please note that the result will only indicate whether one of those rooms has an issue — it will not show which one.

Prioritise rooms that:

• Have known or suspected water damage
• Cause worsening symptoms when occupied
• Are frequently used (e.g., bedrooms, living rooms)

If you’re unsure which rooms to test, consider starting with air sampling to identify higher-risk areas.

For best results, we recommend cleaning the property first and then collecting dust after 6–8 weeks of fresh accumulation.
However, this step is not essential and depends on your goals. If you want to check for historical contamination, need urgent results, or are investigating a specific event, testing existing dust can still be appropriate and informative.

On receipt of your sample, Mould Lab will send it on to the necessary lab via FEDEX Express Delivery (1-3 business days).

Once your sample is with the lab, the turnaround time is 7 days.