Practice Test Geeks(CMA) Certified Mold Assessor Practice Test
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CMA Sampling & Testing Methods Flashcards

6 cards from real CMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which air sampling method collects mold spores on a glass slide coated with adhesive for direct microscopic examination?

    Answer: Impaction sampling (e.g., Andersen, RCS)

    Impaction samplers like the Air-O-Cell or Burkard draw air through a slit, impacting particles onto an adhesive-coated slide for microscopic analysis.

  2. What is the primary advantage of bulk sampling compared to air sampling when assessing mold in building materials?

    Answer: Bulk sampling identifies the fungal species present in the material itself

    Bulk samples (pieces of building material) allow laboratories to identify and quantify fungi actually colonizing the material, not just what is airborne.

  3. What does the term 'colony forming unit' (CFU) represent in mold culture analysis?

    Answer: A single viable propagule capable of growing into a visible colony

    A CFU is one countable mold colony that grew from a single viable fungal structure (spore, hyphal fragment, etc.) — it represents viability, not total spore count.

  4. Which analytical method can identify mold genera and species using DNA without requiring laboratory culture growth?

    Answer: qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction)

    qPCR detects and quantifies specific fungal DNA sequences, allowing identification of species including those that do not culture readily.

  5. What is an 'outdoor control' (background) sample, and why is it required during an indoor mold assessment?

    Answer: An outdoor air sample collected simultaneously to establish baseline spore levels

    An outdoor control sample establishes the background spore types and concentrations so that indoor levels can be meaningfully compared to determine if there is an indoor amplification problem.

  6. Which sampling media is most commonly used for viable (culture-based) mold air sampling?

    Answer: MEA (Malt Extract Agar) or DG-18 agar plates in an Andersen sampler

    Viable air sampling uses nutrient agar plates (MEA, DG-18, or similar) in cascade impactors like the Andersen 6-stage sampler to grow and count living fungi.