ERMI vs HERTSMI-2: Why I Didn’t Understand the Difference at First
I assumed one number should tell me everything. It rarely works that way.
When I first heard about HERTSMI-2, I felt embarrassed that I didn’t already know what it was.
I had already wrapped my nervous system around ERMI testing, and suddenly there was another acronym, another score, another way to measure the same space.
I assumed I had missed something important — or misunderstood ERMI all along.
I didn’t realize yet that these tests were answering different questions.
This didn’t mean I had done anything wrong — it meant I was still learning how environmental data is meant to be used.
Why I Thought ERMI and HERTSMI-2 Were the Same Thing
At the beginning, all I saw were scores.
I didn’t understand why there needed to be more than one way to look at mold in dust when I was already overwhelmed by learning how to read ERMI results.
More numbers felt like more pressure, not more clarity.
This didn’t mean the tests were redundant — it meant I was expecting simplicity where nuance actually mattered.
What ERMI Was Helping Me See
ERMI gave me a broad picture of the environment.
It helped explain why my body reacted the way it did in certain spaces, something I had already begun to unpack in what an ERMI test really is.
ERMI helped me understand the story of a space, not just a moment in time.
This framing helped me stop treating the score like a verdict.
Why HERTSMI-2 Landed Differently for Me
HERTSMI-2 felt narrower and more focused.
Instead of trying to explain everything, it seemed to highlight specific areas of concern — which initially made me nervous.
Focus can feel scarier than breadth when you’re already unsure.
This didn’t mean HERTSMI-2 was more alarming — it meant it was answering a different kind of question.
How Context Changed the Way I Used Both Tests
Once I understood that ERMI and HERTSMI-2 weren’t competing, something softened.
This realization built on what I had already learned about timing and interpretation in when an ERMI test is helpful — and when it made me more confused.
Different tools can coexist without contradicting each other.
This didn’t mean I suddenly felt certain — it meant I felt less pressured to force clarity.
Why Comparing Scores Directly Can Be So Misleading
I made the mistake of lining numbers up side by side and trying to rank them.
That habit echoed the way I had earlier misread ERMI scores, something I reflected on in why I misread my ERMI score at first.
Numbers feel concrete, but meaning still requires interpretation.
This realization helped me step out of comparison mode and back into understanding.
Questions I Had About ERMI vs HERTSMI-2
Does one test replace the other?
In my experience, no. They highlighted different aspects of the same environment.
Is it normal to feel overwhelmed by multiple scores?
Yes. That feeling said more about my nervous system than about the tests themselves.