“Everyone deserves clean air—no exceptions.”
That simple belief guided Richard Johnson, the founder of Air Allergen & Mold Testing, through every mold inspection, lab report, and client phone call he ever made. It wasn’t just a slogan. It was his mission.
As a leader in AI-powered mold and air quality testing, Air Allergen has set the standard for innovation and trust in the industry.
Today, Air Allergen is one of the nation’s most advanced, AI-powered mold testing labs—offering same-day results, 100% slide analysis, and court-defensible data for a fraction of the industry cost. But none of that happened by accident. It’s the result of one man’s relentless pursuit of truth through science.
This is the story of how a legacy became a laboratory—and how innovation is keeping that legacy alive.
The Early Days of Air Allergen
Richard Johnson founded Air Allergen over 20 years ago with a simple goal: to help families and communities live healthier lives by understanding what’s in the air they are breathing. He believed mold testing should be accessible, affordable, and accurate—especially for those in vulnerable housing situations.
Air Allergen quickly became known not just for its expertise, but for its heart. Richard worked directly with organizations like the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF), providing pro bono mold testing for tenants living in substandard conditions. His findings often made the difference in court, giving low-income renters scientific proof that helped them demand safe, habitable homes.
Richard’s dedication to quality and responsiveness consistently improved the experience and satisfaction of his customers.
Richard’s belief in science as an equalizer drove every decision he made.
The Problem Richard Saw in Traditional Testing
Over time, Richard grew frustrated. As a mold professional and lab operator, he saw firsthand how manual testing methods—where only 20–30% of a spore trap slide was analyzed—left room for inconsistency and error.
Too many families were depending on reports that might have missed the truth. He knew that spores didn’t distribute evenly across slides, and yet the industry standard remained partial review. He asked the question no one else was asking at the time: To truly protect families, it was necessary to determine the true extent of mold presence.
“What if we could analyze every spore, on every slide, every time?”
That question would ultimately change the future of mold testing.
Building the Vision: A Decade in the Making
Richard began working on a radical idea: combining environmental diagnostics with artificial intelligence. AI is transforming the field of mold inspection by enabling more precise, data-driven analysis and decision-making.
He partnered with Techcyte, a pioneer in medical-grade AI diagnostics, to begin training a model on hundreds of thousands of manually verified spore trap images. The vision? A system that could:
Analyze 100% of a slide with no sampling bias
Identify and count 90+ mold spores and 10+ airborne particulates
Deliver same-day, standardized reports
Scale for high-volume professionals without sacrificing quality
Be offered at a price point affordable to inspectors and remediators alike
Improve the accuracy and effectiveness of mold detection and remediation through advanced AI algorithms
The AI system can generate new models or predictions based on large datasets, providing valuable insights for mold inspection and remediation. The training process involves continuous learning, allowing the system to improve its performance over time. After training, the AI can learn from new data to further improve accuracy and adapt to emerging mold patterns.
This wasn’t a short journey. It took years of iteration, investment, and relentless refinement. Richard pushed for ISO 17025 accreditation, insisted on human oversight through expert mycologists, and even reengineered lab workflows to integrate digital scanning and AI interpretation. The AI-powered analysis delivers a high level of accuracy, ensuring reliable results for clients. Integrating AI into the lab workflow has also increased efficiency, streamlining the testing process and reducing turnaround times.
The partnership with Techcyte allows AI to aid professionals in making better decisions by providing accurate, data-driven recommendations.
And he did it while still personally reviewing reports, mentoring staff, and advocating for tenants in housing court. Interest and support from investors have played a key role in advancing AI technology for mold inspection, helping to drive innovation in the industry.
The Role of Home Inspectors: Partners in Progress
Home inspectors are at the front lines of ensuring safe, healthy homes—especially for first-time home buyers eager to make informed decisions. Their expertise in the mold inspection process is crucial, as they are often the first to identify potential mold growth, mold presence, and air quality concerns that could impact a family’s well-being.
Traditionally, mold testing and air quality testing have been time consuming and sometimes limited in scope, leaving room for uncertainty about hidden mold issues or particulates found in the air. But with the advent of AI-powered technology, home inspectors now have the ability to provide far more accurate and detailed insights than ever before.
By leveraging advanced AI, inspectors can quickly analyze air samples for mold spores and other air particulates, generating comprehensive reports that clearly identify the extent of mold growth and the quality of the air inside a home. This technology enables inspectors to pinpoint mold problems that might otherwise go undetected during a normal home inspection, giving home buyers and sellers the confidence they need to move forward.
The result is a more reliable, efficient inspection process that empowers home inspectors to deliver the highest standard of service. With AI-driven analysis, inspectors can provide clients with actionable information about mold presence, air quality, and potential health risks—enabling smarter decisions and safer homes for everyone.
Today’s Air Allergen: Powered by Innovation, Guided by Legacy
Today, Air Allergen operates one of the most advanced mold testing labs in the country:
100% AI-powered slide coverage
Same-day results on samples received by noon EST
$18 reports—with optional mycologist-reviewed upgrades
ISO 17025-accredited for spore traps, swabs, tape lifts, and bulk samples
Serving home inspectors, mold remediators, property managers, and attorneys nationwide
Our AI-powered system helps reduce overall costs for clients by increasing efficiency and minimizing disruptions during mold remediation.
Home inspectors and property managers are encouraged to purchase mold testing services for actionable results that can influence important decisions.
Our ISO 17025 accreditation demonstrates our commitment to compliance with industry standards, ensuring accurate and reliable results.
We strictly adhere to safety regulations in all testing and reporting to protect the health and safety of our clients and their properties.
We recommend using our AI-powered reports for more reliable and informed decision-making in mold inspection and remediation.
Users can easily upload images of suspected mold for fast and accurate analysis using our advanced technology.
Our lab features advanced image analysis, making mold detection more precise and accessible.
Our reports emphasize the value of including a picture in every mold inspection report for clear documentation.
Each report includes pictures to help clients better understand the findings and build trust in the results.
But beyond the numbers and features, the most important thing is what hasn’t changed: our mission.
We still believe, as Richard did, that everyone deserves clean air—no exceptions. Every test we run, every spore we count, and every report we send is rooted in that belief. It is important to have homes tested for mold to ensure a healthy living environment.
Ask any member of our team who worked with Richard, and they’ll tell you: his fingerprints are still on everything we do.
Honoring the Legacy, Living the Mission
When Richard passed away in 2025, just weeks before being honored as AVLF’s Partner of the Year, it shook our lab and our clients alike. But in many ways, he had already ensured that his work would continue long after him.
Early detection of mold is crucial, as it can prevent extensive property damage and reduce the need for costly repairs.
The AI platform he helped build isn’t replacing people—it’s realizing the standard he always believed was possible. It’s the culmination of his desire to bring truth, access, and precision to every home, every family, and every professional who relies on accurate diagnostics. The platform can also assess the severity of mold growth, helping guide effective inspection and remediation strategies.
As one of his colleagues said during his memorial:
“Richard didn’t just run a lab. He made the invisible visible. He gave people proof. He gave people power.”
Our reports are designed to help clients easily understand the results, ensuring that everyone involved can make informed decisions with confidence.
Experience the Lab Richard Built Risk-Free
Whether you’re a home inspector, remediation contractor, attorney, or property manager you deserve lab results that are fast, consistent, and defensible.
Submitting samples and receiving results with our AI-powered system is easy, making the process straightforward for everyone.
That’s why we invite you to try Air Allergen’s AI-powered mold testing system completely free.
✔️ 100% slide coverage
✔️ Same-day turnaround
✔️ $18 standard reports
✔️ Optional mycologist-reviewed upgrades
✔️ No contracts, no obligations
🔗 Submit your free sample today
Final Thought
Richard Johnson didn’t just see mold. He saw injustice. He saw gaps in science and access—and he built a solution with heart, rigor, and vision.
At Air Allergen, we don’t just honor that legacy.
We live it.
Every single day.
