Los Angeles County · Mold & health
Mold-Sensitive and CIRS Households: Testing, Remediation and Clearance
If someone in your home is mold-sensitive or has been told they have CIRS, the mold work itself is the same, but it should be done more carefully: a full moisture inspection first, the dust tests your doctor asks for, stricter containment and cleaning, and independent clearance before anyone moves back in.
- First stepMoisture inspection
- ClearanceIndependent testing recommended
- CoverageAll of Los Angeles County
- StandardANSI/IICRC S520
- Call(213) 659-0672
The basics
What does “CIRS” mean, and is it an accepted diagnosis?
CIRS stands for chronic inflammatory response syndrome. It is a term used by some physicians and by patient communities to describe long-lasting symptoms that people link to time spent in water-damaged buildings. Some practitioners, including members of ISEAI (the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness), use it in their work.
It is also a contested diagnosis. Many mainstream medical organizations do not recognize CIRS as an established condition, and the research behind it is still debated. We don’t take a side. Our job is the building: finding moisture, removing mold and proving the work is done.
What do the CDC and EPA say about mold and health?
The CDC says damp and moldy places can cause a range of effects in some people, or none at all. Sensitive people may get a stuffy nose, wheezing, or red or itchy eyes or skin. People with allergies, asthma or weakened immune systems can react more strongly. You can read more on our pages about mold and asthma and black mold exposure.
The EPA, CDC and World Health Organization all say the priority is to fix the moisture and remove the mold, whatever the species. That matters even more when someone reacts at low levels.
Testing
Which mold tests do physicians sometimes ask for?
Doctors who treat mold-sensitive patients often ask for an ERMI or HERTSMI-2 dust test on top of a standard inspection. Each test answers a different question, and none finds a leak by itself.
| Test | What it measures | What it can’t tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture inspection (meters, thermal imaging, hygrometer) | Where water is getting in and which materials are wet | Which species are present |
| Air samples (spore trap) with an outdoor control | Spores in the air at that moment, compared with outside | Mold hidden behind sealed walls, or what was in the air last month |
| ERMI dust test | DNA of 36 species in settled dust, scored against a national sample of homes | Where the mold is growing or how much is active now |
| HERTSMI-2 dust test | A shorter score built on five species often tied to water damage | Where the source is; score bands are a convention, not an official standard |
| Surface samples (tape lift, swab) | Whether a visible stain is mold, and what kind | Anything you can’t see |
The EPA has said ERMI was developed as a research tool and is not meant for routine home use. Some physicians still find it useful. Ask yours what they want and why.
For a deeper look at dust testing, see our ERMI and HERTSMI-2 testing page. Mycotoxin testing of the home is covered in the questions below.
How is the inspection done differently for a sensitive household?
It covers more ground and records more detail, because a sensitive person may react to a small hidden problem a standard walk-through would skip.
- Every wet area, not just the stain: bathrooms, sinks, windows, AC condensate lines, the attic and the crawl space.
- The HVAC system: coils, drain pans and ducts can spread spores through the home. Our page on mold in AC ducts and HVAC systems explains what we check.
- Coordinated sampling: if your doctor wants an ERMI or HERTSMI-2 result, we collect it during the same visit so you have one consistent record.
- A written report: moisture readings, photos, sample locations and the accredited lab’s results, in a form you can share with your physician.
Remediation
How is remediation done more carefully?
The steps follow the ANSI/IICRC S520 standard, the same as any job. What changes is how far each step goes. A written remediation protocol helps, because it spells out the stricter scope before work starts and gives the clearance tester something to check against.
- Fix the water first. Remediation without a moisture repair is wasted money for any household, and worse for a sensitive one.
- Contain even small areas. Plastic sheeting and a HEPA air scrubber running under negative pressure keep dust out of the rest of the home, even on jobs that might otherwise be done without full containment.
- Remove more, clean less. Moldy drywall, insulation and carpet come out rather than being sprayed. Paint and encapsulants never go over active growth.
- Detailed HEPA cleaning. HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping of surfaces inside and next to the work area, because settled dust is what dust tests measure.
- Contents plan. Soft items from affected rooms are cleaned, packed out or discarded based on what the household and their doctor are comfortable with. See our mold and contents cleaning services.
- Stay out until clearance. Most sensitive households stay elsewhere during the work. Ask your doctor whether that applies to you.
Clearance
What should clearance look like before a sensitive person moves back in?
Clearance should be done by someone other than the company that did the removal. For a sensitive household it usually means a visual check, dry moisture readings, and air samples compared with an outdoor control.
- Visual: no visible growth or dust inside the work area before containment comes down.
- Moisture: framing and remaining materials back to normal dry readings.
- Air: indoor spore counts similar to or lower than outdoors, with no unusual types indoors.
- Dust (if your doctor asks): a repeat ERMI or HERTSMI-2 test. Ask your doctor about timing, because a dust test reflects whatever dust is there on the day it is collected.
Our clearance testing page covers the pass criteria in more detail, and our guide to hiring an independent mold inspector explains why the tester and the remover should be separate.
What does careful testing and remediation cost in Los Angeles?
Expect to pay more than a standard job because of wider containment, more removal and extra testing.
| Service | Typical LA range |
|---|---|
| Inspection with moisture mapping | $250–$500 |
| Inspection with 2–3 air samples and an outdoor control | $400–$800 |
| Each additional air or surface sample | $75–$150 |
| ERMI or HERTSMI-2 lab analysis | Varies by lab; confirmed in writing first |
| Typical residential remediation | $1,500–$6,000 |
| Post-remediation clearance test | $300–$600 |
Typical industry ranges for the Los Angeles area. Your written quote depends on the size, access, materials and testing involved.
Straight answers
What we will and won’t do for a mold-sensitive household
We will
Take your concern seriously, collect the samples your doctor requests, explain each test’s limits and follow a stricter written scope.
We won’t
Diagnose anyone, tell you a test result explains symptoms, recommend treatments or supplements, or sell testing your doctor hasn’t asked for.
For general health questions, start with our mold and health hub, then take your questions to your doctor.
Questions mold-sensitive households ask us
Do you test for CIRS?
No. CIRS is a medical question, and we’re mold professionals, not medical providers. We test the building: moisture, air, surfaces and, if your doctor asks, settled dust with ERMI or HERTSMI-2. Your doctor decides what those results mean for you.
Should I get an ERMI test first?
Many people in mold-sensitive groups say ERMI first. We suggest a moisture inspection first, because a dust test can’t show where water is getting in. If your doctor wants an ERMI or HERTSMI-2 result, we can collect it during the same visit.
What is a good HERTSMI-2 score?
Scores of 10 or below are often read as low, 11 to 15 as borderline, and above 15 as high. Those bands are a working convention, not an official standard. Ask the physician who ordered the test how they use the score.
Can you test my home for mycotoxins?
Some labs offer it, but there is no widely accepted standard for what household mycotoxin results mean. Before you pay for it, we’ll explain what the lab measures and its limits. Your doctor can tell you whether the result would change anything.
Do I need to throw out my furniture and belongings?
Not automatically. Hard items can usually be cleaned. Soft, porous items from heavily affected rooms are harder to clean fully. Some sensitive households choose to replace them. Decide with your doctor based on how you react.
Should a sensitive person stay home during remediation?
Most sensitive households stay elsewhere until clearance passes, even with full containment. Whether that’s needed in your case is a question for your doctor. We can give you an expected timeline so you can plan.
Will passing clearance mean my symptoms go away?
We can’t promise that, and no honest company can. Clearance shows the work area meets the agreed criteria. How a person feels afterward depends on many things only a doctor can assess.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mold and health: cdc.gov/mold
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mold resources and ERMI background: epa.gov/mold
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH), indoor dampness and mold guidance
- World Health Organization (WHO), guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould
- ANSI/IICRC S520, Standard for Professional Mold Remediation
Last updated November 2026. This page is general information about mold testing and remediation, not medical advice. We’re mold professionals, not medical providers. Talk to your doctor about symptoms and testing. Prices are typical Los Angeles ranges, not a quote.
Need careful testing or a stricter scope?
Call (213) 659-0672, 24/7 across Los Angeles County. Tell us what your doctor has asked for, and we’ll explain what we can test and what it costs.