Asbestos Testing Costs vary from states to states and country to country; so here we simply try to give you an idea as to what it might cost you to get a single or a number of asbestos sample tested in the laboratory. Understand that any laboratory that has been accredited by the National Voluntary Accreditation Program (NVLAP) is authorized to have your asbestos samples tested and provide you with the results. The basic asbestos presence test that we will be talking about here is the Asbestos Fiber Analysis (PLM – Polarized Light Microscopy). Just to help you out; here is a list of accredited asbestos testing laboratories that are qualified to do a test on your sample.
Getting an Asbestos Sample
In the previous articles; we have discussed in detail the ways to extracting and preserving necessary samples for asbestos presence test. Hence; its required of you to go through the Guide to Taking Asbestos Sample. Take time to go through the article in order to know correct way of taking asbestos sample and hence collect it in the allowed manner.
Should You Buy Asbestos Testing Kit?
Not required. Its a personal call again. Please understand that you won’t be needing a certificate or a qualification to collect samples of asbestos unless its a specific state law that prevents you, or the status of the asbestos containing material. These testing kits contain nothing but various types of containment material and a handy guide to preparing yourself to taking the asbestos sample yourself. If you take time to go through the above mentioned asbestos sample extraction guide; you’d know that if you were to follow simple safety guidelines and use protective clothing; you can very well be taking the samples and won’t be needing the asbestos testing kit that everyone tries to hard sell on you.
Moreover, if you do order for a testing kit online from sites like amazon; you would need to wait at least a week for the shipment to reach you and your asbestos testing costs too would be inflated. Beware that there are a few laboratories that would want to sell you on to this testing kit which is really not required. We found Western Analytical Lab speaking honestly about it; and we’d definitely recommend you check them out if they are offering their services in your geography.
Asbestos Testing Costs for Friable and Solid Material
Understand the difference between friable and non friable asbestos first. The friable and solid asbestos sample testing cost lot lesser when compared to the non-friable and dusty asbestos samples. The cost of testing a single asbestos sample might be anywhere between $30 to $60 USD. If you have a big roof to be tested or the flooring; obviously you would be sending more number of sample and consequently the rates can be reduced with the increasing number of samples. Take care to follow all the steps mentioned in the guide above because the laboratory might reject the samples that don’t have labels on them or the ones that aren’t packed well or sealed properly.
Asbestos Testing Costs For Non Friable Material
If you want samples to be tested for non friable or dusty material, it might end up giving you bigger asbestos testing costs simply because of the nature of the sample type. In case of dusty sample that is sent to the laboratories; the experts use an electron microscope to identify the presence of various types of asbestos fibers and hence because of the equipment alone, the cost of testing a non friable asbestos sample might vary from $150 to $180 per sample.
In case of this type of asbestos material; make sure you gather sufficient sample material. If it is the dust that you are sampling; get enough of it inside a ziplock. If collecting dust is proving difficult; then wet a tissue paper and wipe the affected area and put that tissue paper as the sample inside the ziplock bag. The same is kept under the microscope and tested for presence of asbestos fibers.
Site Visit by The Asbestos Removal Experts
If you are unsure about the type of risk involved in getting your hands dirty to get the asbestos sample yourself and send it for testing; then you can very well go for the professional help from asbestos removal experts who visit your site and handle the collection of sample and testing it for asbestos themselves. Obviously the costs for such service is comparatively higher compared to the DIY asbestos testing. This service costs you anything above $120 if you are located within 10 miles radius from the service providers; and the cost shoots further up if you are located in a remote area.
Sending the Sample to The Asbestos Testing Laboratories
Once the samples are collected, there are many ways to go about getting it sent to the asbestos testing laboratories.
1. Asbestos Sample Drop Off
You can personally visit the laboratories and handover the samples at the counters setup by the laboratories; and this happens to be the speediest way to ensure that your samples reach early and are tested fast. Although; you have to be in vicinity of the asbestos testing laboratory and might not be convenient for those people who might just not have enough time to do it; or are living in a far off area.
2. Using Mail/UPS/FedEx to Send Asbestos Sample
The second way is carefully label all your sample bags with your name and address, contact number and write on it saying ‘May contain asbestos’ and send it via mail to the laboratory address. Ensure sufficient stamping is done by you as unstamped or un-labeled samples are rejected by the laboratories. In this way, you can choose which testing lab you want your samples to be sent. You need to allow a day or two for the samples to be delivered.
Getting The Results And Further Action
Be assured that the results of the tests are always kept confidential and you are the only one who would be informed about the result of the asebestos tests. Usually testing the sample for the asbestos presence takes at least 24-48 hours depending upon the pending tests in the laboratories; but on a rough scale, you should get your test results within a week. The best way to know about the results is to offer to receive the update via email. This is the most un-obtrusive way of getting to know the result.
If you happen to be in a hurry about the results; you can specify your contact number and ask them to notify via call, there are speedy services in testing too; but the asbestos testing costs would be considerably higher compared to the normal ones. The certificate that shows the results of the tests can be sent to your mail and it might take up to a week to reach your door steps. In any case, insist on having the Asbestos Test Results Certificate sent to your address.