- 210
- Lab markers
- 10
- Days until results
Mycobacterium Surface Swab Test
Dust lab test kit
Price
$370
Identification of mycobacteria from a surface swab, across a very wide species list — a specialist test, and a slow one by nature.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free shipping in 3-5 business days
What’s included
- All sampling materials
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- Full contaminant details for your address
- Prepaid 2-day return shipping
- Accredited lab network
- Regulatory analytical methods
- Per-location results
- Scored against EPA + CDC standards
- HSA/FSA eligible via TrueMed
It’s worth testing for if…
- A clinician or industrial hygienist asked for it
- You are investigating a plumbing or humidifier biofilm
- You need species-level identification, not presence
What is Mycobacteria?
210 measurements
Mycobacteria are a genus of slow-growing, unusually hardy bacteria with a waxy cell wall that resists disinfection. The non-tuberculous species colonise plumbing biofilms, showerheads, humidifiers and water heaters, surviving chlorination and warm water that would clear most organisms. This identifies which species are present from a surface swab — a specialist investigation, usually run at a clinician's or hygienist's request.
How to Test
Swab the surface, seal the tube and mail it back. Mycobacteria are slow growers, so the lab has to give the culture time before it can identify what it has.
Every measurement, explained
At Nestwell, we provide science backed ranges for all the exposures in your home, allowing for personalized suggestions of in home remediation.
210 measures.
Also measured
- Mycobacterium speciesdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium algericumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium alsensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium alveidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium angelicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium anyangensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium aquaticumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium aquiterraedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium arabiensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium arcueilensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium aromaticivoransdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium arosiensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium arupensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium immunogenumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium asiaticumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium attenuatumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium aubagnensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium aurumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium austroafricanumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium aviumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium bacteremicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium basiliensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium boenickeidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium bohemicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium bolletiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium botniensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium bouchedurhonensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium bourgelatiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium bovisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium branderidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium brisbanensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium brumaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium canariasensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium capraedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium celatumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium celeriflavumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium chelonae corrig.detects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium cheloneidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium chimaeradetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium chitaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium chlorophenolicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium chubuensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium colombiensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium conceptionensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium confluentisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium conspicuumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium cookiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium cosmeticumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium crocinumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium decipiensdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium diernhoferidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium doricumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium duvaliidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium eburneumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium elephantisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium engbaekiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium europaeumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium fallaxdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium farcinogenesdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium flavescensdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium florentinumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium fluoranthenivoransdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium fortuitumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium fragaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium frankliniidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium xenopi corrig.detects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium frederiksbergensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium gadiumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium gastridetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium genavensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium gilvumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium goodiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium gordonaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium grossiaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium haemophilumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium hassiacumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium heckeshornensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium heidelbergensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium helveticumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium helvumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium heraklionensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium hiberniaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium hippocampidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium hodleridetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium holsaticumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium houstonensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium innocensdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium insubricumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium interjectumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium intermediumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium intracellulare corrig.detects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium intracellularisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium iranicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium kansasiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium komaniensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium komossensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium koreensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium kubicaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium kumamotonensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium kyogaensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium kyorinensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium lacusdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium lehmanniidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium lentiflavumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium lepraedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium lepraemuriumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium litoraledetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium llatzerensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium longobardumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium lutetiensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium madagascariensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium mageritensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium malmesburyensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium malmoensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium manteniidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium marinumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium marseillensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium massiliensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium microtidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium minnesotensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium monacensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium montefiorensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium montmartrensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium moriokaensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium mucogenicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium muraledetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium nebraskensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium neglectumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium neoaurumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium neumanniidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium neworleansensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium nonchromogenicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium noviomagensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium novocastrensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium obuensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium oryzaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium palauensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium pallensdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium palustredetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium paraensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium paraffinicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium parafortuitumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium paragordonaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium paraintracellularedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium parakoreensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium parascrofulaceumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium paraseoulensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium paraterraedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium paratuberculosisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium parmensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium peregrinumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium persicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium phleidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium phocaicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium pinnipediidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium porcinumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium poriferaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium pseudokansasiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium pseudoshottsiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium psychrotoleransdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium pulverisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium pyrenivoransdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium rhodesiaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium riyadhensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium rutilumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium salmoniphilumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium saopaulensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium sarraceniaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium saskatchewanensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium scrofulaceumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium sediminisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium senegalensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium senuensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium seoulensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium septicumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium setensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium sherrisiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium shigaensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium shimoideidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium shinjukuensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium shottsiidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium simiaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium smegmatisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium sphagnidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium stephanolepidisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium stomatepiaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium syngnathidarumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium szulgaidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium talmoniaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium terraedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium thermoresistibiledetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium timonensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium tokaiensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium triplexdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium trivialedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium tuberculosisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium tusciaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium ulceransdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium vaccaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium vanbaaleniidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium vicinigordonaedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium virginiensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium vulnerisdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium wolinskyidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium xenopeidetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium yongonensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium abscessusdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium africanumdetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium agridetects to 10 cfu/swab
- Mycobacterium aichiensedetects to 10 cfu/swab
“Detects to” is the method detection limit — the lowest concentration this kit's method can distinguish from zero. The lab may substitute an equivalent or updated method, in which case its limit may differ from the one shown.
Designed To Understand Your Whole House
A single kit answers one question properly rather than several vaguely. Whichever you start with, it is the same lab, the same methods, and the same reporting — so results from one kit sit beside results from the next, in one place, on the same scale.
Accredited labs, regulatory methods
Every sample is analyzed by an accredited environmental lab with the same methods regulatory testing uses.
Numbers with regulatory context
Results come back as a measured value next to the standard it is judged against, not just a "detected".
One box, no home visit
Everything arrives at once and we tell you both where and how to sample, no outside home inspection needed.
How Nestwell Testing Works
How Collection Works
Collect
Swab the surface, seal the tube and mail it back. Mycobacteria are slow growers, so the lab has to give the culture time before it can identify what it has.
Mail
Everything goes back in the same box with the prepaid return label. No appointment, nobody in your house, and easy to send back when convenient for you.
Read
Results land in your Nestwell dashboard in about 10 days, each scored against the standard that applies to it.
Why Nestwell?
| Capability | Nestwell | Hardware Store Strips | In Person Inspector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samples from across your home | Yes | One sample, one place | Yes |
| Real exposure concentrations | Yes | Paper colour key | Sometimes |
| Accredited lab, regulatory methods | Yes | No | Sometimes |
| Nobody has to come into your home | Yes | Yes | No |
| Results tracked over time in one place | Yes | No | One time result |
A number is only useful next to its limit.
At Nestwell, we provide science backed ranges for all the exposures in your home, allowing for personalized suggestions of in home remediation.
Accredited labs only
Samples are analysed by accredited environmental laboratories using the analytical methods used for regulatory compliance work: the same reading a professional consultant would order.
Each result has a standard
A number on its own is not an answer. The EPA action level for lead in water is 15 ppb; the CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Each finding is shown against the limit that applies to it.
Where there is no limit, we say so
The EPA sets no numeric limit for mold, and moisture control is the real remedy. Mold results are reported as what is growing and at what relative level, never as just a pass or a fail.
Built with leading medical experts
Dr. Malathi Srinivasan
Clinical Professor of Medicine, Primary Care and Population Health
Stanford University
“Our physical & home environment is a direct determinant of our health, and is immunoregulatory. In a year, we breathe about 6 million times, drink 250 gallons of liquid, and eat almost 2 tons of food, with hundreds of compounds interacting on our skin and immune systems. Small environmental changes make a big difference, especially in early childhood development and for vulnerable adults.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? Find answers to common customer concerns below.
What does the Mycobacterium Surface Swab Test actually measure?
The panel runs 210 measures, covering Mycobacteria. Every one is listed on this page with its detection limit, so you can check for a specific substance before you buy.
How do I take the sample?
Swab the surface, seal the tube and mail it back. Mycobacteria are slow growers, so the lab has to give the culture time before it can identify what it has. It takes a few minutes per swab, and everything you need comes in the box.
How long until I get results?
The kit reaches you in about 3 days. Once the lab receives your sample, results appear in your Nestwell account in about 10 days. Return shipping is prepaid and included.
Who analyses the sample?
An accredited environmental laboratory, using published analytical methods — the same methods and the same labs used for regulatory and commercial testing. Nestwell does not run the analysis itself.
What happens if something comes back high?
Your results are shown against the relevant reference values rather than as a bare number, so you can see which measures stand out and by how much. The lab reports what it measured; it does not diagnose, and a lab result is not medical advice.
Can I pay with an HSA or FSA?
Most Nestwell kits are HSA/FSA eligible through Truemed. Eligibility is shown on the kit page at checkout, and where it applies you can pay with pre-tax dollars.
