Asbestos Cancer

Home test kits for asbestos testing are sold in several stores and online, and this article reviews these asbestos home test kits to determine whether they are a good deal or not. The asbestos test kits seem like an inexpensive way to assess asbestos exposure, but do they work and are the worth the price? The short answer is that they are a scam, but this is explained further below.

Why Test for Asbestos?

Asbestos is mineral that can form in such small fibers that it can easily become airborne and inhaled into the lungs. Once this occurs, there is a chance of asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer occurring. The more frequently and longer this occurs, the better chance of these illnesses developing.

Test Kit Issues

The first thing one must do before purchasing a home test kit is to determine if lab fees are covered in the cost. Asbestos presence in materials cannot be determined without analysis by a microscope, so for the most part these test kits are simply 'sampling' kits. The real analysis is performed in the lab. The problem is if the kit does not include lab fees, then you are basically just paying for a few Ziploc plastic bags. That is pretty much all these kits contain - a few ziploc bags to put your samples into before sending them off to the lab. How much does 2-3 ziploc bags cost? I would hazard that they are less than an asbestos test kit.

The next issue is if you go ahead and spend the money for the handful of Ziploc bags (a.k.a. 'test kit'), is the lab that is chosen for you going to give you a good deal? The answer is likely 'no'. The lab fees with these kits can run $40. Many asbestos labs hate dealing with private individuals, but they will still quote a 'high' fee of $20 or so. Their real industry clients often get quoted $6 to $10 per sample, and you can sometimes find labs that will give this price to random Joe's off the street as well. The US government maintains a list of accredited labs at ts.nist.gov/Standards/scopes/plmtm.htm.


Conclusion

So the problem with these home test kits is that first you pay several dollars for several cents worth of the Ziploc bags, then if you follow the instructions you will send these to a lab that will way over-charge you. You can just as easily buy your own Ziploc bags and send the samples to whatever lab gives you the best deal.

Learn more about doing it yourself at http://www.infobarrel.com/Asbestos_Testing_Tips_for_Homeowners

Though it is not a good idea for untrained individuals to remove asbestos, private home owners can legally remove asbestos themselves, and tips and guidance are provided at http://hubpages.com/hub/Residential-Asbestos-Removal-and-Asbestos-Abatement-Tips

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