Quantitative spore counts you can rely on.
Microscopic analysis of Air-O-Cell, Allergenco-D and equivalent spore-trap cassettes for quantitative airborne fungal spore counts, with indoor / outdoor ratio interpretation.
- UK-wide since 2013
- Independent assessments
- ISO 9001 accredited
- Practical control advice
What this means for you
Evidence you can act on and defend.
Measured exposure evidence
Data suitable for HSE, insurers and audits.
Independent assessment
Occupational hygiene review of real exposure risk.
Practical control recommendations
Prioritised actions based on risk and operational practicality.
Compliance support
Evidence to support COSHH and internal governance.
Speak with a spore trap analysis specialist
0800 433 7914
sales@sysco-env.co.ukMon–Fri · 08:00–18:00 · Independent advice · Fixed-price scope
Typical response: same working day
What happens next
Send the cassettes; we do the rest.
Standard turnaround is 10–14 working days; rush turnaround is available on request. Reports include interpretation suitable for the duty holder or contractor.
No unnecessary disruption. No generic paperwork. No unnecessary complexity.
Whether exposure is controlled
A clear yes or no, backed by measurement.
Where the highest risks are
Locations, tasks and roles ranked by exposure.
What actions matter most
A prioritised plan you can budget and schedule.
What you get
Four answers. One clear plan.
You need to know what your workforce is exposed to, whether your controls are effective, what actions matter most, and how to demonstrate control confidently.
That is exactly what we deliver.
Quantitative microscopy
Spore counts to internationally recognised methodology.
Indoor / outdoor ratios
Result interpretation relies on a paired outdoor sample as the natural baseline.
Health-relevance
Distinction between common environmental spores and water-damage-indicator genera.
Clear interpretation
Reports designed for surveyors, restoration contractors and housing duty holders.
Why clients call
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
- 01
An auditor is asking
HSE, your insurer or a client wants evidence — not assurances
We provide measured spore trap analysis data and a clear technical report that resolves the issue quickly.
- 02
Your team is worried
Operatives are reporting concerns or symptoms
We attend site, quantify workforce exposure and provide clear evidence of current risk levels.
- 03
You suspect a problem
You know there's a risk and you want measured data before it becomes a crisis
We quantify exposure, assess it against current limits and provide a prioritised corrective action plan.
What we answer for you
Three questions, settled.
- Where your people are exposed
- We map the tasks, areas and shifts where spore trap analysis matters, then sample what your team actually breathes — not a generic site average.
- Whether your controls are working
- An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, PPE and work practices — what is effective and what requires improvement.
- What you need to fix first
- A prioritised, costed action list — the smallest set of changes that gets you compliant and measurably safer.
How we work with you
From your first call to your action plan.
- 1
We listen first — your site, your concerns, your deadline.
- 2
We walk the workplace with your team to see exposure as it actually happens.
- 3
We sample on the people most at risk, using validated occupational hygiene methods for spore trap analysis.
- 4
We assess your existing controls honestly — what's working, what isn't.
- 5
You receive a clear technical report suitable for operational, compliance and regulatory readers.
- 6
We hand you a prioritised action plan you can budget, schedule and defend.
Typical survey outputs
What you receive at the end of the engagement.
- Per-cassette quantitative spore count
- Genus-level identification
- Indoor / outdoor ratio table
- Health-relevance commentary
- Chain-of-custody record
- Photographic confirmation (where useful)
- Methodology summary
- Defensible laboratory report
Client testimony
“Quick, clean spore-trap reports with genuinely useful interpretation — exactly what we need for housing-disrepair files.”
— Surveyor
UK housing association
Typical environments we assess
Wherever spore trap analysis risk affects your people.
- Lab analysis service
- Property investigations
- Healthcare estates
- Schools
- Commercial premises
- Hospitality estates
Background
Spore trap analysis, in detail.
Methodology
Spore-trap cassettes (Air-O-Cell, Allergenco-D and similar) collect airborne particulate impactionally onto a sticky glass slip. Microscopic analysis under high magnification provides genus-level counts which are normalised to the sample volume to express spores per cubic metre.
The importance of paired outdoor samples
Outdoor air typically contains thousands of spores per cubic metre, dominated by Cladosporium and basidiospores. An indoor sample is interpreted relative to a paired outdoor sample — an elevated indoor count or an unusual indoor genus distribution indicates an indoor source.
What the genera mean
Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, Aspergillus / Penicillium-like spores in indoor counts above outdoor baseline are amplifier indicators suggesting active growth on a wet substrate.
Related services
Often assessed alongside spore trap analysis.
Mould genus ID
Microscopy and culture identification from swab, tape-lift and bulk samples.
Explore 02Tape-lift analysis
Surface contaminant identification.
Explore 03Mould & damp
Full mould investigation and remediation guidance.
Explore 04Workplace IAQ
Multi-parameter IAQ for occupied buildings.
ExploreCommon questions
Mould Spore Trap Analysis — FAQs.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most from operations, HSE and procurement teams.
- Which cassettes do you accept?
- Air-O-Cell, Allergenco-D, Micro5 and most equivalent impaction cassettes.
- Turnaround?
- 10–14 working days standard; rush turnaround available on request.
- Do I need a paired outdoor sample?
- Strongly recommended — interpretation is much weaker without it.
- Do you provide interpretive commentary?
- Yes — included with every report.
- What pump and flow rate?
- Typically 15 L/min for 5–10 minutes; we can advise on scenario-specific protocols.
- Where are you based?
- UK-based laboratory with national post-in service.
Speak with a spore trap analysis specialist
Send us the cassettes. We'll quantify the spores.
Tell us
- cassette type and number,
- indoor / outdoor pairing,
- context for interpretation,
- and your reporting deadline.
We will provide
- a clear scope,
- fixed quotation,
- proposed attendance strategy,
- and expected reporting timeframe.
Send us a brief
Outline the sites, tasks and timelines of concern — we'll reply with a clear scope and fixed quotation.
Sample lab report
Our report at a glance.
Every Sysco laboratory report is short, hierarchical and actionable. Here is what you'll find on the first page — and you can preview the full PDF below or request the worked example by email.
- 01
Sample & site context
Why we sampled, the locations chosen and the method used — at a glance.
- 02
Headline result table
Total spores per cubic metre by location, with indoor / outdoor ratios.
- 03
Dominant genera
Plain-English call-out of any water-damage indicator organisms found.
- 04
Priority actions
Three-step action plan with owners — what to do next, in order.
Anonymised — based on a real Sysco assessment, signed off by a BOHS-qualified hygienist.
For download
Free laboratory resources for your team.
Print-ready references and forms — no sign-up required. Updated whenever methods or guidance change.
- Reference
Spore-count interpretation guide
How to read total counts, indoor / outdoor ratios and water-damage genera in a Sysco spore-trap report.
- Field guide
Sampling collection guide
Field-ready instructions for collecting spore traps, tape-lifts, swabs, bulk samples and pumped media for lab analysis.
- Form · A4
Chain-of-custody form
Printable A4 form for sample IDs, custody transfers and dispatch — send with every batch of samples to the lab.
Need a specific method, sampling kit or chain-of-custody tailored to your project? Call 0800 433 7914 or email sales@sysco-env.co.uk.
From the field
Related case studies & insights
- Field note
Demystifying Mould: Your Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Preventing Mould Growth
Read article - Field note
Harnessing the Power of Spore Trap Sampling for Industrial Hygiene
Read article - Case study
Implementing Effective Mould Remediation Strategies in a Large Residential Hotel
Read case study