ABSTRACT
As most microbiological agents are disseminated in the environment by being transported in the air as particulate and droplet aerosols, microbiological air testing (referred to as bioaerosol testing) is of the greatest importance for detecting their presence and determining the extent of potential exposure. In the process of evaluating the hygienic quality of indoor environment, it is also important to assess the contamination degree of microbiologically polluted surfaces. The emission of microbial particles from surfaces may not only increase the risk to people in such contaminated interiors, but it may also result in the spread of such pollutants in the environment, leading to uncontrolled expansion and contamination of new areas, both within and outside the building envelope. This chapter describes the sampling methods of microbial particles from the air and surfaces, including a description of their use and the characteristics of the instruments applied for this purpose. The methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the collected microbial samples, including microscopic, culture-based, biochemical (metabolic) and molecular methods, are also discussed, together with the advantages and disadvantages of these methods.
