Frequently Asked Questions

Radon is a radioactive gas that forms when the Uranium in natural stone decays. The gas decays into radon progeny which are radioactive metal atoms that get caught in our respiratory tracts during inhalation. Radiation emitted from the radon progeny causes lung cancer by damaging the cells in our respiratory tracts and lungs.

Radon gas is odorless and a test is the only way to detect the gas. The amount of radon in indoor air will vary depending on structural deficiencies, ventilation, and is influenced by the weather outside. Due to these factors, it is recommended that all dwellings, schools, and workplaces be tested for radon gas.

World Health Organization (WHO) states it is proven that radon, a Group 1 carcinogen, can cause lung cancer and Lung cancer kills more people than breast, pancreatic, colorectal, and prostate cancer COMBINED. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 21,000 people die from radon a year. It constitutes the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and in 2005 the Surgeon General of the United States issued a national health advisory.

Radon gas is odorless and a test is the only way to detect the gas. The amount of radon in indoor air will vary depending on structural deficiencies, ventilation, and is influenced by the weather outside. Due to these factors, it is recommended that all dwellings, schools, and workplaces be tested for radon gas.

There are two main different types of radon testing: Long Term & Short Term tests.

Short Term Test Kits

• Our Rapidos detector is for shorter measurements of at least 10 days and 90 days at most. While not a traditional short-term test, our device combines the need for a quick test with the proven accuracy of alpha track technology. Since it is not susceptible to the vulnerabilities that typically hinder a short-term test, you can easily see your radon level while leaving worry behind.
• Our QuickScreen radon test kit is an activated charcoal tester meant for 48 hours to 96 hour screening. Mean to be deployed under closed home conditions. Inexpensive and perfect for preliminary testing.

Long Term Test Kits

• The Radtrak³ is a long-term test that will monitor between 90 days and 1 full year. The guidelines put in place by the EPA and Health Canada are both based on a year-long exposure to radon. This extremely accurate test will take into account all of the daily fluctuations in radon and provide an average concentration.

If you are unaware of your property’s radon gas levels then you should buy a short term radon test kit to know if your property is in danger.

If you have recently done a radon gas test or had to do a mitigation process to remove radon gas from your property then you may want a long term test kit to make sure you know how your radon levels fluctuate throughout the year and if you need to do any further removal.

The number of detectors needed varies based on the type of structure and the size of the structure being tested.

Residences

When testing a residence there are many factors to consider. How large is the home? How many floors does it have? Are there multiple areas that make ground contact? Which separate rooms are frequented heavily? It is recommended to place a test in the lowest lived-in level of the home, any additional level of the home that touches the ground, and any rooms that are frequently used and relatively closed off from the main portion of the level being tested. In most instances a test will be placed in the basement, any parts of the home on a slab or above a crawl space, and in any bedrooms, offices, etc. that are separate rooms in the basement or on the level being tested. It would take thousands of webpages to explain every home’s scenario and/or best testing location. If you have any questions about a specific area of your home contact your local department of health to see if they have any protocols for testing in your area and then contact us to assist you in determining the right kits for your residence.

Residential Testing

Buildings and Schools

For buildings and schools, check with your local department of health for any regulations and consult the AARST-NRPP protocol for “Schools and Large Building Measurements”.

Multifamily Buildings

In multifamily buildings, some states require certification for testing and protocol in the AARST-NRPP document “Multifamily Building Measurement” should be followed.

The biggest difference is how long the tests last. While long term test kits are more accurate and give you a more exact reading, short term test kits will let you know much sooner if you have an issue with radon gas.

The short term test is useful if you need to see if more serious testing is warranted. Radon levels are measured for a minimum of two days, after which the test is mailed to a lab for the final results.

Long term radon tests are more accurate and give you a better picture of what is happening with your air. The long term test accounts for daily fluctuations.

Detection is your number one weapon against radon exposure. The EPA recommends testing every 2 years in homes and even where a previously low level was found. If you are unsure of your property’s radon gas level, you should explore getting radon testing done immediately.

There are a few ways to explain commissions but the easiest way is to think of a commission equaling a report or building. Each commission you receive will come with a unique number and password to enable access to RadOnline. This is where you will be able to enter project and property data for the tests being performed. In large projects, for example school districts, you have the option to make each school its own commission, making it extremely easy to deliver a specific school only their buildings results. If you are testing multiple residences, each home would be its own commission as well. Currently, when purchasing detectors for commercial use online, each Bulk Kit will come with its own corresponding commission. Bulk detectors will be sold with a set number of commissions, broken down as so:

• 10 detectors will come with 2 commissions
• 25 detectors will come with 5 commissions
• 50 detectors will come with 10 commissions

If at any time you require additional commissions you may contact Customer Service to request additional commissions.

If you have misplaced your commission number and/or password you may contact Customer Service to request them.

We will ship the detectors to you with instructions. Orders placed prior to 12:00 pm CT ship same day (excluding holidays and weekends); orders placed after 12:00 pm ship next business day. Once the testing is complete, mail them back to us for analysis.

Postage paid return envelopes are provided with Radtrak³ and Rapidos kits purchased in and returned from the United States. QuickScreen tests include a return mailer but postage is not included. An option to purchase a FedEx 2 Day return label is available for US QuickScreen kits, else postage needs to be applied upon return.

There are no additional lab fees, report fees or any hidden fees.

Our Radtrak³ and Rapidos tests kit come with a prepaid mailing label to return to the laboratory. Our QuickScreen detector does not contain a prepaid label.

Upon receiving your test, our laboratory will begin processing your test and the results will be emailed within 7 to 10 business days.

Upon completion, your radon test analysis report will be mailed to you and available online at RadOnline. You can log in at any time to RadOnline and using your commission number and password to retrieve a copy of your report.

Yes! We explain everything in the report and make recommendations based on your results.

On your report, there is a lot of information. The detector number(s), location information, and your results. The main bit of information to look at is your Average Radon Concentration. This is the radon level recorded during the time the test kit was deployed. Next to that number there will be a +/- number called the standard deviation. This number is the variance in which your radon level may have fluctuated. It will always be a small number and have little to no impact on your average radon concentration. Any decisions on fixing a radon level should be made solely on your average level.

The US and Canada have each set a guideline for exposure to radon and in the US it is 4.0 pCi/l and in Canada the level is 200 Bq/m³.

If you need a new copy of your report, you can login at anytime to RadOnline and using your commission number and password retrieve a copy of your report. Alternatively, you may contact Customer Service with your commission number and password and they can send you a new copy.

If you have misplaced or lost your commission and password you can contact Customer Service with your name and address and they can try and find the report for you. Looking up reports this way will take a bit longer but they will respond to you and let you know it is in process.

Upon receiving your test, our laboratory will complete processing within a few business days.