Northern Michigan
Allergy & Asthma Center, P.C.

A. Timothy Linehan, M.D.
Board Certified
Adult & Pediatric Allergy & Immunology

pollen count


POLLEN COUNTS WILL RESUME SOON

 

Source: Count:
Trees STANDBY
Grass STANDBY
Weeds STANDBY
Molds STANDBY

Dr. Linehan is a certified pollen counter and performs pollen sampling on a seasonal basis.

The process of pollen sampling is initiated by a device called the Rotorod sampler. It is a small motorized device with spinning arms that contain lubricated collection slides.

The rotorod is preset to spin at certain intervals at a specific speed for a 24 hour period. The Rotorod is placed outdoors in an unobstructed area, at least 10 feet above ground to maximize its capture of airborne allergens. The prevailing pollen grains and mold spores in the air are trapped and stick to the spinning surfaces of the collection slides and can be identified and counted when stained and examined under a microscope by Dr. Linehan.

The data collected is reported as pollen grains or mold spores per cubic meter of air. The counts fall into the following categories:

  Low Moderate High Very High
Tree pollen 0-15 16-90 91-1500 >1500
Grass Pollen 0-5 6-20 21-200 >200
Weed pollen 0-10 10-50 51-500 >500
Mold Spores 0-900 900-2500 2,500-25,000 >25,000

This information is helpful in determining the likely allergic trigger for a patient’s current symptoms. Pollen counts will be reported seasonally on a weekly basis. The current count can be obtained by calling 1-231-487-6575 or by clicking the pollen count button on our homepage.