What is a disadvantage of spore trap sampling in IAQ assessments?

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Spore trap sampling relies on collecting airborne spores over a defined period so there are enough spores on the slide to identify and count accurately. If the sampling time is too short, too few spores are captured, which makes counts less reliable and reduces the method’s ability to detect typical or episodic spore levels. This diminishes accuracy, increases variability, and can miss transient spikes in spore concentration, all of which are a fundamental drawback of short sampling durations. While cost and the need for skilled microscopy can be relevant considerations, they are not as directly tied to the method’s fundamental limitations as insufficient collection time. The statement about not being sensitive to spores isn’t accurate, since the method does capture spores, but its effectiveness is limited when exposure is too brief.