QMD Protocol℠ in Naples, FL
Though QMD are the author’s initials backward (David Mark Quigley), and he developed and reverse-engineered the QMD Protocol℠, the initialism refers to Quantitative Mycotoxin Deactivation℠. The QMD Protocol℠ and its Quantitative Mycotoxin Deactivation℠ focus on Mycotoxin Biodeactivation℠ and address some of the most toxic compounds known to humans. The Assessment, Identification, Treatment, and Validation stages make up the complete process of ridding interior environments of the deadly toxigenic biological hazard of mycotoxins.
The QMD Protocol℠ focuses on the low molecular mass-secondary metabolites that mold produces. In terms of human health, it’s not the mold we should be most worried about; it’s the toxins it produces, namely mycotoxins.
The QMD Protocol℠ has four critical components or phases, each equally important as the others.
1. Assessment
A risk assessment of the environment suspected to be contaminated needs to be undertaken first. This is done from a biohazard standpoint, adapted for but not limited to mycotoxin contamination, using bio recovery site risk assessment guidelines.
The following factors are used in the assessment:
- Determine the type of risks present – what is the Bio Safety Risk Group they fall into as recommended by ABSA Risk Group Data Base.
- Identify the Area Risk Group Classification – either offering Low, Medium, or High impact risk levels of the project's site/area (including surrounding areas).
- Determine Class (I – IV) of Risk Mitigation Measures Required (calculated by measuring the Risk Group against the Area Risk Group impact level).
- Risk Mitigation Guidelines (established by Class I, II, III, or IV risk mitigation measures). This will determine workflow and required PPE used to mitigate risk during the project.
- Life Safety Assessment (a nine-step assessment as outlined by Life Safety Code and building code requirements).
- Risk Assessment Sign-Off (sign-off by the client, project manager, and technicians involved in the project).
Each potentially contaminated property is made up of micro and macro environments; essentially, it is a living environment unto itself and needs to be assessed as such.
Ideally, a visual inspection would be undertaken during this phase. However, it could also be undertaken during the identification phase.
2. Identification
It is not only important to identify the presence (or absence) of mycotoxins, but also to establish in-depth quantitative reporting of their type and quantity.
Methodical sampling procedures need to be followed to ensure accurate surface samples are taken, with their analysis being undertaken and reported by a reputable independent third-party laboratory.
3. Treatment
The logic of an effective deactivation treatment may, on the surface, appear to speak for itself. However, mycotoxins have shown themselves to be very difficult to efficaciously deactivate in situ, with even successful mold remediations still leaving them in place.
The current treatment paradigm was the costly exercise of removing all potentially contaminated building materials, surfaces, fabrics, and associated mechanical equipment. Instead, the solution arises upon consideration of the contamination as a biological, chemical, and mathematical problem. Then, using all three of these scientific disciplines to solve it synergically.
Although mycotoxins are chemical compounds, they are considered biotoxins, because they are produced from mold, a biological substance. Considering this, the treatment component of the QMD Protocol℠ looks at breaking the molecular structure of the identified mycotoxins. All that remains for effective treatment is to then calculate the affected area and apply the desired volume of treatment to it. Once this is achieved, their chemical makeup is broken, rendering them inert, efficaciously treating the problem.
If any gross bio-contaminations are identified, such as mold, bacteria, or other pathogenic and indoor pollutants, during the assessment or identification phases, alternative remediation protocols may be required before the QMD Protocol℠ treatment is undertaken.
Additionally, if it is determined that an extensive mycotoxin contamination is present during the identification phase, load reduction may be used to balance and reduce the load before the QMD Protocol℠ treatment is undertaken.
4. Validation
It is all very well assessing the risks of a situation, identifying that a mycotoxin contamination exists, and undertaking an effective deactivation treatment program; however, validation – determining that mycotoxins have been rendered inert – is vital.
As with the initial identification, surface sampling of the affected areas needs to be accurately gathered, and their analysis again needs to be undertaken by an independent reputable third party to show the desired results have been achieved, thus validating them.
The QMD Protocol℠ Summary
The above describes the complete QMD Protocol℠. When all of these components are undertaken chronologically and methodically, and exactingly executed, the desired outcome is assured.
The QMD Protocol℠, and its Quantitative Mycotoxin Deactivation℠ is a sophisticated development, complementary to Mycotoxin Biodeactivation℠. This innovative approach is a revolutionary advancement and has been considered from biohazard and bio-recovery standpoints.
The QMD Protocol℠ provides a serious deactivation solution for multiple environments and industries. When adopted, fields ranging from food and coffee processing, animal feed production, and deactivation of weaponized aflatoxins, to name a few, will benefit enormously.
How the site-specific QMD Protocol℠ was implemented in this case study is described in further detail in the following pages.
Please click on the link below and download our Case Study, showing quantifiable mycotoxin deactivation, validated by our third-party Network Partner, RealTime Labs.
Please click on the link below that takes you to RealTime Labs mycotoxin sampling White Paper, that validates the Case Study documented in
Mycotoxin Deactivation: A Successful Mycotoxin Treatment and Reduction Case Study.
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