Testing For Mold Associated Illness
Don't miss out on Dr. Sharol's newsletters: Get notices of herbal conferences, any book giveaways and new articles released.
List Of Tests For Mold Associated Illness/ Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
This is a list of tests that may be useful in the diagnosis of mold associated Illness/Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) due to water damaged buildings. I have marked those that I find helpful in bold. The others should be considered depending on the situation/patient. As I have time I will put a link for these tests to explain the test and what lab provides the test.
These tests are simply tools to help a practitioner better diagnose. The most important thing is still a good intake interview.
Blood Tests Often Checked When Mold Related Illness Is Supsected
GENIE
A transciptomics test that is useful to complete if a person is exposed to a water damaged-building (WDB) and is chronically ill from the exposure. Exposure to Actinomycetes and endotoxins found in WDB's have been associated with changes in genetic expression in people who develop CIRS from exposure to a WDB. Treatment protocol and retesting with GENIE has shown these changes can be corrected.
173 genes have been found to be differentially expressed in CIRS patients and this test groups them into categories that help to identify areas of pathophysiology. You can read more about it here. You can also find papers published about GENIE at Dr. Shoemaker's website here.
Practitioners can order the test for their patient here.
Other blood tests that are useful:
- HLA DR - this may not be the issue - maybe we need to test for antigen presenting and receiving proteins in HLA DR/DQ system - sorry to confuse you but the new evidence appears that although there is an HLA DR/DQ issue, the type may not be important. The amount may be the issue.
- VIP
- MSH
- ADH/osmo
- ACTH/cortisol
- TGFb1
- MMP9
- MARCoNS
- Anti-cardiolipin antibodies/anti-gliadin antibodies
- C4a.
There are some rules that some clinicians follow such as: In children younger than 11, 4 abnormal tests are needed. In children 11 and older and adults, 5 abnormal tests are needed. However, as I mentioned, the interview is the most useful tool and the testing is simply to give you some validation that you are correct in your assessment. If someone is living in a water-damaged house with obvious mold and they have obvious symptoms of CIRS, testing becomes a little less important.
Possible Brain Related Tests
VCS - Visual Contrast Sensitivity
Hormone Tests
Hypothalmaic Hormones
- MSH - Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone
- Leptin
- Oxytocin
Pituitary Hormones
- Adrenal Cortico Trophic Hormone (ACTH)
- AntiDiuretic Hormone (ADH),
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone(TSH)
- Urine Osmolality
Periperal Hormones
- Cortisol
- Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S),
- Androstenedione
- Lipase
- Testosterone
- Free T3 (FT3)
- Free T 4 (FT4)
- Total T3/Reverse
Also consider
- Acetylcholine
- GABA
- Serotonin
- Dopamine/epi/norepi.
Immune System Tests
Autoimmune Antibody Testing
- Antigliadin
- IgA
- IgG
- Anticardiolipins
- thyroid peroxidase antibodies
- Thyroglobulin Panel
Antibody Testing For Allergies To Molds and Mycotoxins
IgE antibody testing for molds finds an allergy to molds and not the genetic susceptibility that we see in CIRS. If one thinks they have an allergy to mold rather than a genetic sensitivity they can use IgE antibody testing to look for sensitivities to molds. One lab tests for IgE and IgG to mycotoxins also.
There is also Alletess Medical Laboratory testing of IgG and IgE antibody testing to various molds.
There is a lab called My Myco Lab that tests for Igg, IgE to mycotoxins. I have only had a couple experiences with this lab so far and not sure what I think of it yet. The results seemed to relate to the individuals condition, but can't evaluate a lab on only two experiences.
Great Plains Lab has a serum test for IgE reactions to various molds.
Other Immune System tests
- Complements C4a, C3a
- TNF alpha,Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1(TGF B-1)
- MMP9
- Il-1B
- Il-6
- CD4+CD25+
C3a: Will help you to know if you might have a lyme borreliosis infection or other associated infection
C4a: Will help you decide if you have a biotoxin issue and if you are actively being exposed.
TGF b-1: This test will help you decide if you have an issue with biotoxins and if you are currently being exposed.
MMP9: Elevated in many inflammatory diseases including biotoxin related disease. Although MMP9 is useful for breaking down tissue for replacement. It can get out of hand. MMP's are even involved in breaking down the blood brain barrier.
Genetic Testing For Susceptibility: HLA DR by PCR, Genomic Analysis SNPs - Using genomic analysis to ID SNPs that cause health issues.
Infectious/Opportunistic Organisms Testing: Multiple antibiotic resistant coagulase negative staphylococci MARCONs Parasite testing, bacerial, viral, Lyme WB
Other Tests:
- VIP - Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide,
- VEGF - Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor,
- Von Willebrands Profile, Erythropoietin,
- Mycotoxin Testing in Urine,
- Heavy Metals - urine challange if not too sensitive (Too hard for many folks to do.)
- Gastrointestinal Funtion Profile.
Please realize that tests such as urine tests may not turn up positive even if the person has a high amount of mycotoxins if they are unable to appropriately present the mycotoxins as an antigen (tagging them as agntigens) due to their HLA haplotypes. I give an idea of how to solve this issue at the link above.
The company Cell Science Systems does testing for mold sensitivity as part of their testing for food sensitivity. They use an alcat test panel. As opposed to other food sensitivity testing such as IgG or IgE tests, the ALCAT test does not monitor antibody production. Rather, the patient's blood is exposed to a panel of over 350 different chemicals and foods, including certain molds depending on the test. Their emphasis is on white blood cell reaction.
ProgeneDx: This is a genetic gest. Dr. Shoemaker has made testing for gene acivity or suppression in relation to CIRS (ProgeneDx) availble at www.survivingmold.com
Testing for Non-Docs
Life Extension has a link for testing for a few mold related biomarkers that can be used.
Testing the House, Work or School.
The best testing is an ERMI at Mycometrics.com
If MSH is normal, an ERMI score of < 2 is usually safe.
If MSH is < 35 and c4a > 20,000, an ERMI score of < -1 is desired.
Tests you do not see elevated due to CIRS- due to water damaged building and should cause you to look for other issues.
High SED rate, high CRP: Can see with CIRS, but may also be something else.
Remember To Send This To Friends And Family Who Will Benefit From Reading It!
You Are The Healer exists due to the generosity of my readers.
The Crowdfunding I receive through regular patrons allows me to continue this website. 
“I welcome donations through my company Wise Acres LLC, of any amount in lieu of using ads from outside sources, and thank you!” Please use the Pay Pal donate button. Purchasing my paperback books from this website or e-books from Amazon is another way to support this website. Please note we are not non-profit and donations are not tax deductible.
