The SKC BioSampler, a spore-trap cassette and an agar-plate sampler all collect airborne microbes, but they answer different questions: a liquid impinger keeps organisms alive for culture, PCR or immunoassay, a spore trap gives a fast total spore count under the microscope, and an agar impactor grows only what is viable. Pick the method from the question you must answer, then the pump, because each one needs a different flow.
In this guide
- When is air sampling for mould or bioaerosols justified?
- Which bioaerosol sampling method answers which question?
- What is the SKC BioSampler and what does it need?
- How much air does each method actually sample?
- Which bioaerosol samplers and pumps does ERE list?
- How do you choose a method, step by step?
- Frequently Asked Questions
When Is Air Sampling for Mould or Bioaerosols Justified?
Less often than most buyers expect. Health Canada states that in most situations it does not recommend testing the air for mould (Health Canada, Guide to addressing moisture and mould indoors). Its guidance for indoor air quality professionals adds that results are normally of limited use for judging health risk or building a remediation plan, and that neither Health Canada nor NIOSH recommends mould testing in offices, schools or other non-industrial buildings, while sampling may be required when mould is suspected but the source has not been found through a thorough inspection (Health Canada, Guidance for indoor air quality professionals).
That makes the buyer profile clear: consultants and hygienists who sample on a defined question (hidden source, before and after remediation, a hospital or food-handling area, a wastewater or agricultural workplace), not a screening tool for every building. For wider IAQ screening, see our commercial IAQ monitoring guide.
Which Bioaerosol Sampling Method Answers Which Question?
Match the method to the result you need from the lab. The table is built from the ERE product records and the SKC BioSampler page.
| Question | Method | Flow and collection, per the records |
|---|---|---|
| How many spores, and which types, are in the air right now? | Spore trap: Air-O-Cell cassette | Any pump drawing 15 LPM open flow; inertial impaction onto a pre-loaded glass slide; collects viable and non-viable aero-allergens |
| Which organisms are alive and can grow? | Agar impactor: Buck Bio-Culture pump | 30 to 120 LPM; holds a 90 mm agar petri dish; 380 holes of 1 mm |
| One sample, several lab methods (culture, PCR, microscopy)? | Via-Cell cassette | Pump calibrated to 15 LPM; water-soluble collection media; keeps spores viable in transit |
| Long sample, or fragile organisms and viruses, analysed by culture, PCR or immunoassay? | Liquid impinger: SKC BioSampler | 12.5 L/min through three sonic nozzles; up to 8 hours; liquid collection |
What Is the SKC BioSampler and What Does It Need?
The SKC BioSampler is a glass impinger that collects bioaerosols into a liquid with a swirling collection method meant to limit particle bounce and re-aerosolisation. SKC lists applications including indoor air quality investigations, infection control in hospitals and veterinary clinics, agricultural dust, and workplaces such as pulp and paper mills or wastewater treatment plants (SKC Ltd, BioSampler).
Three details decide whether it fits your kit. First, SKC says it must run on a high-volume sonic flow pump, such as the BioLite or BioLite+, that can hold 15 inches of mercury (0.5 atmosphere) of downstream pressure. Second, its three tangential nozzles each pass 4.2 L/min for roughly 12.5 L/min in total. Third, a viscous liquid such as ViaTrap mineral oil keeps collection efficiency constant over an 8-hour sample, although SKC notes that mineral oil may not suit PCR. SKC also states there is no standardised method for bioaerosol collection at this time.
What this means for a Canadian buyer: ERE does not list the BioSampler, and none of the ERE pump records below describes BioSampler compatibility. Do not pair a cassette pump with an impinger on the assumption that flow is flow. If an impinger is the right method for your protocol, ask us before you buy the pump.
How Much Air Does Each Method Actually Sample?
Sample volume is flow multiplied by time, and it sets your detection limit. This is our arithmetic from the stated flows, not a manufacturer figure:
- BioSampler, 8 hours: 12.5 L/min x 480 min = 6,000 L (6 m3) in one sample.
- Air-O-Cell, 5 minutes: 15 L/min x 5 min = 75 L. At 10 minutes, 150 L.
- Buck BioAire, 5 minutes: 5 to 20 L/min x 5 min = 25 to 100 L.
- Buck Bio-Culture, 1 minute: 30 to 120 L/min x 1 min = 30 to 120 L.
The takeaway: a spore trap or agar plate captures a snapshot in minutes, while an impinger integrates over hours. Short samples suit a quick comparison of indoor against outdoor; long samples suit low-concentration settings. Overloading a slide or plate is as real a risk as undersampling, so confirm run times with your laboratory.
Which Bioaerosol Samplers and Pumps Does ERE List?
Air-O-Cell cassettes (spore trap)
The Zefon Air-O-Cell Bioaerosol Cassettes are pre-loaded cassettes that collect mould spores, pollen, insect parts, skin cells, fibres and inorganic particulate by impaction, with no slides to prepare. They run on any pump drawing 15 LPM open flow. The record lists ZE-AOC050 (50 per box), an in-line calibration adapter and inner wall samplers. Note the record flags a limited shelf life, so check dates when ordering. Our cassette types guide compares them with other cassette media.
Via-Cell cassettes (one sample, several analyses)
The Zefon Via-Cell Bioaerosol Sampling Cassettes collect viable and non-viable bioaerosols and keep mould spores viable during transport. The record lists culture on agar plates, PCR (water-soluble media) and direct microscopy pre-screening as analysis options. Connect to any pump calibrated to 15 LPM. ZE-VIA010 is 10 per box.
Zefon Bio-Pump IAQ Lite
The Zefon Bio-Pump IAQ Lite is a battery pump for exclusive use with Air-O-Cell and Via-Cell cassettes at 15 LPM, with ±5% accuracy, programmable sampling times and about 8 hours of run time on its NiMH battery per the record.
Buck BioAire
The Buck BioAire Bioaerosol Sampling Pump (model B520, APB-706000) offers 5 to 20 LPM, accepts Allergenco-D or Air-O-Cell cassettes, and has timer settings of 1, 2, 5 and 10 minutes plus keypad calibration. The record gives 6 to 8 hours of run time at 15 LPM.
Buck Bio-Culture
The Buck Bio-Culture Biocontaminant Sampling Pump (model B30120, APB-708000) draws 30 to 120 LPM through an agar-plate sampling head. Per the record, the head holds a 90 mm agar petri dish, can be sterilised with a gas torch or autoclave, and runs at four times the flow rate of an Anderson sampler. It ships with a tripod and a pencil torch.
Flow accuracy matters for every one of these. See our pump calibrator guide and the air sampling pump buyer's guide, and browse the full air sampling collection.
How Do You Choose a Bioaerosol Method, Step by Step?
- Write the question. Presence of a hidden source, a before and after remediation comparison, or a workplace exposure study each point to a different method.
- Ask the laboratory. Confirm which media it accepts and what it reports: total spore count, viable counts, or PCR targets.
- Pick the media. Spore trap for counts, agar or Via-Cell for viability, impinger for long or fragile samples.
- Match the pump to the media. 15 LPM for Air-O-Cell and Via-Cell, 30 to 120 LPM for the Bio-Culture head, sonic flow for an impinger.
- Calibrate before and after. Check flow with a calibrator at the start and end of each sampling day.
- Sample outdoors too. An outdoor control gives the laboratory a baseline for the indoor result.
Need help choosing a bioaerosol sampler?
ERE Inc. has been Canada's environmental equipment specialist for 30+ years. Tell us the question, the laboratory and the site, and we will match the media and pump.
→ Request a Quote | 1-888-287-EREC | Browse Air Sampling | sales@ereinc.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BioSampler?
A BioSampler is a glass liquid impinger that collects airborne bacteria, fungi and other bioaerosols into a liquid for culture, microscopy, PCR or immunoassay. SKC's version runs at about 12.5 L/min on a sonic flow pump.
Does Health Canada recommend air testing for mould?
In most situations, no. Health Canada does not recommend routine air testing for mould, and its guidance says sampling may be needed when mould is suspected but the source has not been found by inspection.
Can I use an Air-O-Cell cassette with a BioSampler pump?
Not by assumption. Air-O-Cell cassettes need a pump drawing 15 LPM open flow, while the BioSampler needs a sonic flow pump holding about 0.5 atmosphere of downstream pressure. Confirm compatibility with the manufacturer.
What is the difference between a spore trap and a culture sampler?
A spore trap such as Air-O-Cell collects spores on a slide for microscope counting, viable or not. A culture sampler such as the Buck Bio-Culture head collects onto an agar plate so only viable organisms grow.
Does ERE sell the SKC BioSampler?
No. ERE lists Air-O-Cell and Via-Cell cassettes, the Zefon Bio-Pump IAQ Lite, the Buck BioAire and the Buck Bio-Culture pump. Contact us if your protocol calls for an impinger.
Related articles
- Air Sampling Cassette Types Compared
- Air Sampling Pumps: Buyer's Guide for Environmental and Occupational Hygiene Professionals in Canada
- Air Sampling Pump Calibrators Compared for Canada
- Indoor Air Quality Monitoring for Commercial Buildings
Lire en français : BioSampler, piège à spores ou culture sur gélose : choisir un échantillonneur de bioaérosols au Canada