Method for detecting dry rot fungus contamination

A method for detecting and treating Serpula lacrymans contamination in an internal environment, comprising the following steps:

• a. taking a sample of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the internal environment,
• b. detecting the presence or absence of predetermined VOCs, emitted by Serpula lacrymans, said predetermined VOCs comprising at least one VOC chosen from each of the following three VOC categories:
• (1). VOCs emitted by Serpula lacrymans whatever the Serpula lacrymans strain and which do not have other origins;
• (2). VOCs emitted by Serpula lacrymans whatever the Serpula lacrymans strain, but which may have other origins;
• (3). VOCs emitted only and specifically by certain Serpula lacrymans strains and which do not have other origins wherein
• the VOCs of category (1) consist of methyl isocyanide,
• the VOCs of category (2) are chosen from the group consisting of 2-methylfuran, 2-methyl-3-butan-2-ol, dimethyl disulfide, furfural, 4-hepten-2-one, methyl benzoate and alpha-cubebene,
• the VOCs of category (3) are chosen from the group consisting of isobutyronitrile, trichloro-methane, methyl thioacetate, 2,5-dimethylfuran, 3-methyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, 2(5H)-furanone, 1-(2-furanyl)ethanone, 3-methylphenyl methylcarbamate, 1-methoxy-3-methylbutane, 5-hepten-2-one, 4-methyl-5-hexen-2-ol, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol acetate, benzyl alcohol and 3-iodo-1-propene;
• c. determining a presence or an absence of Serpula lacrymans contamination as a function respectively of the presence and of the absence of said predetermined VOCs, taking into consideration each of the following conditions (i), (ii) and (iii):
• (i). the presence of VOCs of category (1) directly indicates the presence of Serpula lacrymans contamination, while the absence of such VOCs indicates the absence of Serpula lacrymans contamination;
• and
• (ii). the presence of VOCs of category (2) does not make it possible to reach a conclusion regarding Serpula lacrymans contamination, whereas the absence of such VOCs indicates the absence of Serpula lacrymans contamination;
• and
• (iii). the presence of VOCs of category (3) indicates the presence of Serpula lacrymans contamination, whereas their absence does not make it possible to reach a conclusion regarding the absence of Serpula lacrymans contamination;
• and
• (d). chemically and/or physically treating the internal environment when Serpula lacrymans contamination is detected.