Asbestos Analytical Lab is offering PLM, PCM and TEM AIR and NOB analysis.

Determining how concentrated asbestos fibers may be in the environment of a room or building requires specialized equipment; air is drawn through a filter, which is then analyzed using either phase contrast microscopy (PCM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PCM is a method used in laboratories to enhance the visibility of microscopic, low-contrast particles. It is a relatively quick and inexpensive way to test for the presence of fibrous material in the environment, but cannot distinguish between asbestos fibers and other types. This may be sufficient however if the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) has been confirmed by other means, such as a wipe.

TEM is more accurate, and since it requires greater training, skill and time, it is correspondingly more expensive. TEM can however identify asbestos fibers specifically.

Polarized light microscopy (PLM) is used to test for asbestos in bulk materials by analyzing a 1-2 gram sample.