Asbestos test kits

Asbestos test kits are for homeowners and DIY renovators with a specific suspect material in an older house, such as a popcorn ceiling, old floor tile or pipe wrap, who want to know whether it contains asbestos before a project disturbs it. The short answer: a mail-in kit lets you send a small sample to an accredited laboratory, which is a reasonable first step for a single, intact, non-crumbly material, but it is not a whole-house survey, and friable or damaged materials, large projects and many regulated situations call for a licensed or accredited professional instead. This page is general guidance, not a substitute for an asbestos inspection or for state and local rules. The product buttons below go to Amazon, where you can check the live price, what the kit includes and current availability.

How mail-in asbestos kits work

Asbestos cannot be identified by looking at a material. It has to be examined in a laboratory. A home asbestos kit is really a sampling and shipping kit: it typically contains instructions, sample bags or containers, a chain-of-custody form and sometimes basic protective items. The user collects a small piece of the suspect material, seals it and mails it to the lab named in the kit.

Most labs analyze bulk building materials with polarized light microscopy, or PLM. In plain terms, a trained analyst looks at the sample under a special microscope that uses polarized light. Asbestos fibers have distinctive shapes and optical properties under that light, which lets the analyst identify whether asbestos is present, which type it is, such as chrysotile or amosite, and roughly what percentage of the material it makes up. Results are usually reported as a percentage, and under EPA regulations a material with more than 1 percent asbestos is treated as asbestos-containing. Some materials, such as certain floor tiles, can contain asbestos at low levels that PLM has trouble resolving, and labs may recommend a more sensitive method in those cases. The asbestos analysis guide explains lab methods and reports in more detail.

Kits vary in what they include. Some prices cover the lab fee for one sample; others charge the lab fee separately when the sample is sent. Look for a lab accredited under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) for bulk asbestos analysis, and check how many samples are covered.

Sampling safely, and when not to sample yourself

Asbestos is mainly a hazard when its fibers become airborne and are inhaled, which happens when the material is damaged, cut, sanded or crumbled. Taking a sample disturbs the material, so the sampling itself carries some risk.

Do not sample it yourself when:

• The material is friable. Friable means it can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Old pipe and boiler insulation, some sprayed-on ceiling textures and damaged materials fall in this group, and sampling them can release fibers.
• The material is damaged or deteriorating. Already-damaged asbestos is a reason to limit access and call a professional, not to break off more.
• The area is large, or work is planned that triggers rules. Many states and localities regulate who can inspect and sample, especially before renovation or demolition of multi-family, commercial or public buildings. Requirements differ, so check local rules first. In Colorado, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulates asbestos, and certain renovation and demolition projects require inspection by a state-certified inspector.

For a small, intact, non-friable material where sampling is reasonable, EPA's general guidance for homeowners emphasizes limiting fiber release:

• Keep people and pets out of the area and turn off heating and cooling systems that could spread dust.
• Wear disposable gloves and a respirator suited to asbestos, and lay down plastic sheeting below the sample spot.
• Mist the material with water mixed with a few drops of detergent so it stays wet while sampling.
• Take a small piece through the full depth of the material, place it directly in the sample container and seal it.
• Patch the sampled spot, for example with tape or sealant, and clean up with wet wipes; do not sweep or use a household vacuum.

If any of that sounds difficult, a professional sample is the better choice.

Materials to suspect in older homes

Asbestos was widely used in building products through much of the 20th century, and homes built before the 1980s are the ones most likely to contain it. Common suspects include:

• Popcorn and textured ceilings, especially sprayed-on acoustic texture. The popcorn ceiling asbestos test guide covers this case.
• Vinyl floor tiles and the black mastic adhesive beneath them, including 9-inch by 9-inch tiles.
• Pipe wrap, boiler and duct insulation, often white or gray and wrapped around older heating pipes.
• Vermiculite attic insulation, a pebbly gray-brown or gold loose-fill. EPA advises assuming vermiculite may contain asbestos and leaving it undisturbed rather than sampling it yourself.
• Cement siding and roofing shingles, joint compound, plaster and some window glazing.

Intact material that will not be disturbed is often best left alone. Testing matters most before remodeling, demolition or repairs that would cut, sand or remove it.

Lab turnaround and reading the result

Turnaround depends on the lab and the service level chosen. Standard analysis commonly takes several business days after the lab receives the sample, plus shipping time; many labs offer faster turnaround for an added fee. Results usually come by email and list each sample, whether asbestos was detected, the type and the estimated percentage.

A negative result applies only to the material sampled, and only to the spot it came from. It does not clear the whole house, or even the whole ceiling or floor. Different rooms may have been finished in different decades, flooring may have several layers, and a single sample can miss a material that is not uniform. Professional inspectors often take multiple samples of each distinct material for that reason. A positive result means that material should not be disturbed without proper precautions, and removal of asbestos-containing material is generally a job for a licensed abatement contractor.

When to hire a professional

A home kit fits a narrow situation: one intact, non-friable material and a homeowner who can sample it safely. A professional asbestos inspector is the better route for a whole-house survey before a major renovation, friable or damaged materials, vermiculite, projects where local rules require a certified inspection, and real-estate decisions. Professionals collect samples under controlled conditions, take enough samples to characterize each material and provide documentation that contractors and permitting offices accept. The professional asbestos testing guide covers the process and costs. Homes with asbestos often have lead paint too, so the lead test kit category is worth checking before renovation, and the asbestos and lead overview covers both hazards.

Option	How it works	Best for	Key limitation
Mail-in kit, lab fee included	Homeowner samples; accredited lab runs PLM	One intact, non-friable material	Usually covers one or a few samples
Mail-in kit, lab fee separate	Same process; lab fee paid on submission	Comparing labs or turnaround options	Total cost is higher than the kit price
Professional inspection	Inspector samples multiple materials and documents results	Renovation, demolition, friable or damaged materials	Higher cost; schedule a visit
Air testing	Professional air samples analyzed by a lab	Checking conditions during or after abatement	Does not identify which material contains asbestos

Our picks in this category

The PRO-LAB AS108 Asbestos Kit is a mail-in sampling kit from Pro-Lab for sending a building-material sample to a lab; check the listing for whether the lab fee is included.

The Pro-Lab Asbestos Test Kit is another listing from the same brand and may be the same or a closely related kit; compare the two listings for sample count and lab fees.

The Schneider Labs Asbestos PLM Kit is a mail-in kit for PLM analysis from an independent testing laboratory; check what turnaround options are offered.

The Asbestos Test Kit (mail-in lab) is a general mail-in option; confirm which lab analyzes the sample, its accreditation and whether the fee is included.

Related guides

Many Front Range homes built before the 1980s may contain suspect materials. Local guidance is available in asbestos testing in Evergreen, asbestos testing in Wheat Ridge and asbestos testing in Louisville.

At the county level, see asbestos testing in Boulder County, asbestos testing in Adams County, asbestos testing in El Paso County and asbestos testing in Larimer County.

Elsewhere in the state, see asbestos testing in Weld County, asbestos testing in Pueblo and asbestos testing in Golden.

References

• EPA: Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos
• EPA: Asbestos

Frequently asked questions

Are home asbestos test kits reliable?

The analysis is done by a laboratory, usually with polarized light microscopy, so a result from an accredited lab is reliable for the sample it received. The weak point is sampling: a single small sample may not represent the whole material or the whole house. A professional inspection is better for renovation, demolition or damaged materials.

What does PLM mean on an asbestos test?

PLM stands for polarized light microscopy. An analyst examines the sample under a microscope using polarized light, which reveals the shape and optical properties of asbestos fibers. The report states whether asbestos was found, its type and an estimated percentage of the material.

Is it safe to take an asbestos sample myself?

For a small, intact, non-friable material, homeowners can reduce risk by keeping others away, wetting the material, wearing gloves and a suitable respirator, taking a small piece and sealing it at once. Do not sample crumbly, damaged or large areas, or vermiculite insulation, and check state and local rules, since some situations require a certified inspector.

How long do asbestos test results take?

Standard lab analysis commonly takes several business days after the lab receives the sample, plus shipping time. Many labs offer faster turnaround for an added fee. Check the kit listing for the lab's turnaround options.

If my sample is negative, is my house asbestos-free?

No. A negative result applies only to the material and spot that was sampled. Other rooms, layers of flooring or materials installed at different times may still contain asbestos. A professional survey takes multiple samples of each material to give a fuller picture.