How to Test for Bacteria at Home

The need for clean air in the home is important to the health of you and your family. It’s matters in the workplace as well. That’s why it’s important to test the home for the presence of microbes in the indoor environment. However, the problem is that many people are unsure of how to test for bacteria at home. It’s actually quite simple with a bacteria test kit. 

What is Bacteria?

Bacteria are everywhere. These tiny single-celled organisms are found in every habitat throughout the world and even exist in our bodies. For example, the bacteria that live in our guts help us digest food. However, many bacteria are infectious agents that cause illness.

Bacteria enter the home through open windows, on our clothing and skin, or by coughing and sneezing indoors. These microbes also grow on air conditioners, humidifiers, and HVAC systems then circulate throughout the home. You and your family breathe them into your lungs where they can trigger respiratory infections, even pneumonia.

DIY Bacteria Test Kits for the Home

The good news for homeowners is that DIY test kits answer the question of how to test for bacteria at home. Kits are also a cost-effective, simple way to determine the presence of microbes indoors. 

Indoor air quality has always been important, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many more people understand the relationship between proper ventilation and the risk of infectious disease.

Bacteria, like viruses, can travel through small droplets that are expelled when we cough or sneeze. They linger in the air, travel along air currents, and land on hard surfaces in the home. Knowing how to test for bacteria at home, empowers people to detect these microbes and take steps to remove them.

How to Test for Bacteria at Home

A bacteria test kit helps homeowners identify what bacteria exist in their homes. These DIY screenings also provide the concentration levels of bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and Microbacterium.

Using a swab culture technique called Bio-Vial, the bacterial swab test kits are affordable, easy to use, and get fast results. Use them to test in the bathroom and kitchen and also at work. The swab test features a Rayon tip, which is non-toxic, and very effective in sample retrieval and adsorption. Rub the bacterial swab on the surface you wish to test then place it into the vial included in the kit. Testing areas include hard surfaces but also irregular surfaces such as HVAC coils and air return grills.

Common Indicators of Infection

Now you know how to test for bacteria at home, but you still may be unsure if it is necessary. Common signs of infection include: 

• Fever
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Persistent cough
• Frequent colds 
• Pneumonia

Additional IAQ Testing

A bacteria home test is not the only test available or the only cause of respiratory and other illnesses in the home. 

Dust

Dust also triggers asthma and allergic rhinitis which causes symptoms of itchy, watery eyes, stuffed up or runny nose, scratchy throat, and sneezing. 

Fungi

Fungi in the home include mold that travels through the air and attaches to skin and clothing but also pets. 

Mold

Mold thrives in warm, humid areas and often forms around windows and doors, in basements, and behind baseboards and also triggers allergy symptoms. 

Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins produced by fungi also cause irritation and discomfort. 

Smoke

Wildfire smoke travels for thousands of miles and enters the home through windows causing breathing problems in some cases. 

Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that enters the home through cracks in its foundation, however, it is odorless and colorless and requires an IAQ test kit to identify. 

VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in paints, household cleaners, furniture, and building materials also present a health risk and require an IAQ test kit to identify.

Other Contaminants

Additonal contaminants in the home include:

• Formaldehyde
• Lead
• Dust mites
• Bed bugs
• Legionella and more

These kits are affordable too, so there’s no excuse not to learn how to test for bacteria at home as well as other leading sources of indoor environmental contaminants.

Order Your Test Kit Today

Now that you know how to test for bacteria at home, it’s time to order your test kit and find out for sure. Order a DIY screening kit today and get results fast. For more information and to order your screen check, call 727-572-4550 today.