A tape-lift sample is a surface sampling technique used to identify mold or fungal structures growing directly on a material.
A specialized adhesive sampling medium is pressed against the suspect surface and then submitted to the laboratory for microscopic examination.
Tape lifts are particularly useful when visible discoloration or suspected fungal growth is present because the sample directly evaluates what is on that specific surface.
Unlike air sampling, a tape lift does not measure the concentration of spores in the room air. Instead, it helps determine whether observed surface growth is fungal and what general types of fungal structures are present.