SCUTTLEBUTT Texas Tech University’s air quality lab has lost its funding and, as of Jan. 1, 2007, will no longer be analyzing mold samples. Since so many POA members relied on Texas Tech's lab to analyze samples, POA felt obligated to team up with another highly credible lab and has negotiated several package deals for mold and bacterial analysis with the leading lab in the US. Property owners, tenants and/or buyers will be given several alternative ways to sample suspect areas through POA’s website using this highly credible lab. It’s a great way to determine if there is an environmental problem inside a home, office or school and the extent of the problem. It’s fast and cheap and could provide answers to health concerns and even determine if the property is worth buying, and if so, for how much. POA STRONGLY urges homebuyers to conduct simple testing before committing to purchase or lease a property because the cost to fix the problem may be prohibitive OR the offer made should reflect necessary repairs. POA also urges this testing if occupants in the home, office or school suffer what seems to be chronic respiratory, flu-like symptoms or fatigue. Be on the look-out for the announcement as it is an important one.