Guardian Lab Services is a fully accredited laboratory belonging to the Canadian Association of Laboratory Accreditation (CALA Lab code A4133) . The majority of asbestos testing labs in Canada are non-accredited and are non-compliant with an ISO 17025 Quality Assurance Program. The purpose of a quality assurance program is to assure that all laboratory testing is performed according to the principles of current good laboratory practises. In other words, a quality system of management controls for the laboratory to ensure the uniformity, consistency, reliability, reproducibility, quality, and integrity of documentation and test results. Accreditation makes a huge difference in quality control and analyst competency. All of our analysts are rigorously proficiency tested by CALA to check for precision and accuracy.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is not dangerous unless it is airborne, which can happen during renovations or when removing old building materials. It is important to test any materials that are going to be removed or disturbed because exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other lung diseases.

Guardian Labs recommend you hire a qualified and experienced professional to collect samples from your property. If you decide to collect the sample yourself, Health Canada advises using a NIOSH approved P100 respirator effective against asbestos during sample collection. You may purchase one from most hardwareor safety supply stores. To submit samples on your own, insert one sample into a sealed and labeled Ziploc bag. Depending on the material type, acceptable sample quantity should not be larger than a fist and can be as small as 2 square inches. Drywall samples should be submitted with presence of joint compound or mud. Please collect your sample at a joint or seam. Vermiculite samples however are an exception and the recommended quantity is a medium Ziploc freezer bag, with an emphasis on collecting the fine particulate dust that settles on the floor. Label the bags with permanent marker with the following information: address, location collected (bathroom wall, kitchen ceiling, garage floor, attic, etc.), type of material (floor tile, texture coat, joint compound, insulation, etc.) collection date and the sample number in the order you wish the samples to be reported. You may drop off your samples in person at our lab (Monday to Friday 8: 30 to 4: 00pm). You must first complete a Chain of Custody Form which records important information such as the number of samples, the type of material, location of samples taken, current date, signatures and requested turnaround time for results. Samples will not be analysed without a completed Chain of Custody. Please ensure it accompanies your delivery. Pre-Payment is required upon submission and we accept all major credit cards.

You cannot identify asbestos by looking at it. Asbestos fibers are microscopic. The only way to confirm its presence is to take a sample of the material and have it tested by an accredited laboratory. Asbestos is often mixed with other materials. If you work in a building built before 1990, it is likely that at least some parts of the building will contain asbestos. There are several construction and industrial products. Common applications include: Drywall Joint compound Textured“popcorn” ceiling Spray applied fireproofing Mechanical insulation Pipe wrap Linoleum Vinyl floor tiles and Mastic Vermiculite in cinder blocks and attics Cement board and tiles Cement pipes Textured decorative coating Window putty and caulking Stucco

If your lab report indicates a material is 0.5% or greater in Asbestos this means your building contains Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) according to the Alberta Asbestos Manual and you will require an Alberta asbestos accredited contractor to safely remove and dispose of the ACM. Out of province contractors are not qualified in Alberta. If your lab reports None Detected, this means your building material sample does not contain any asbestos. However, if you do not submit an adequate number of samples for testing, this may not guarantee an accurate representation of your building materials as not all materials are homogenous.

Mold growth can occur in many areas in the house. This can be caused by factors such as water damage or leakage. If you think you have mold growing in your home you should call a professional to come and do a visual inspection and they can take tape lift or air samples which are taken to an accredited laboratory to be analysed.

We offer several turn-around times for asbestos and mold results. Our standard turnaround time is 24 hours. If you require your results sooner, we also offer expedited services for an additional cost. We offer a 24/7 emergency service as well. Damp or wet samples may require additional drying time Hard building material may require additional time in the oven so expedited services may not be possible

We offer several turn-around times for asbestos and mold results. Our standard turnaround time is 24 hours. If you require your results sooner, we also offer expedited services as well as 24/7 emergency services at an additional cost* *conditions apply