For the detection of allergen-producing moulds, in interiors, different measuring methods and analytical laboratory techniques are used (e.g. air sampling, dust analysis, detection of fungal biomass). This often complicates, direct comparison of measured results obtained from different studies. It is essential to standardize these methods in order to facilitate the reproducibility of the results obtained and to promote understanding of the dissemination of moulds, the fungi of the house dust ecosystem included. Interpretation becomes more difficult because it is impossible to establish any direct connection between health symptoms of atopic persons and the measured results, as the necessary sensitization thresholds do not exist.

• fungi: assessment, sampling and analysis