If you suspect that mould exposure may be affecting your health, there are several tests available that can help determine whether mould is playing a role in your symptoms.

It is important to understand that there is no single test that can definitively diagnose mould illness (sometimes called mould toxicity). Instead, diagnosis is typically based on a combination of your health history, symptoms, environmental exposure, and various screening and laboratory tests.

We have listed the available tests from the simplest and least expensive through to the more advanced and costly options. For many people, following this sequence provides a clear picture without needing every test available.

Not everyone will require the more advanced testing. In some cases, the combination of symptoms, exposure history, and initial test results may already provide strong evidence that mould is contributing to health issues. More specialised testing can then be reserved for situations where additional confirmation or information is needed.

Remember that no test is perfect. Each has its strengths and limitations, and results should always be interpreted within the context of your overall health picture and environmental exposure history.

TEST ONE

LOOK AT YOUR LIFE

Do you currently live, or have lived in a house with obvious mould? Have you worked in a building with leaks or water damage? When did you symptoms start and can you correlate it with a mouldy environment? Do you feel better when you are outside, or in another environment? Have you tried everything else under the sun to improve your health with no or little success? Have your other family members or pets also developed health issues since moving into a house?

For some people these questions provide a clear indicator that mould is affecting their health.

COST: FREE

TEST TWO

MOULD ILLNESS QUESTIONNAIRE

Dr Jill Crista, a leading expert in mould illness, has developed a questionnaire after years of seeing patients with mould illness . This questionnaire goes through symptoms and history that are common with mould illness or mould toxicity. While many of these symptoms can be attributed to other conditions, she has found that if you have a number of them together then it is a good indicator of mould illness

Dr Crista and Dr Neil Nathan are currently in the process of validating this questionnaire as an accurate predictor of mould illness, as well as comparing symptoms to other tests (ie mycotoxin testing)

COST: FREE

<< CLICK ON THE MOULD SCORE BANNER TO TAKE THE QUESTIONNAIRE

TEST THREE

VISUAL CONTRAST SENSITIVITY

This is a simple, online vision test you can do for biotoxin illness, which includes mould but also other toxins like lyme and spider bites. The test measures how well your vision can see contrast in light, gray and dark bar patterns. It has been shown to be a highly sensitive test for biotoxin illness – only 8% with the condition will pass the test.

For an accurate test you should

  • Wear your corrective eyewear
  • Have sufficient lighting
  • Have 20/50 visual acuity or better
  • Follow the online instructions carefully

This test can be done either at vcstest.com (first test free, then $25USD) or survivingmold.com ($15 per test or discount for multiple tests).

If you want to be thorough, you can do the tests from both sites and go with the worse result.

COST: FREE - $25 USD

TEST 4

BLOOD TESTS

This can include some tests commonly checked by family doctors, such as

  • Complete blood count
  • Liver enzymes
  • Creatinine
  • Globular filtration rate
  • Anti-diuretic hormone
  • Immunoglobulin subclasses
  • Iron panel (serum iron, saturation, ferritin, transferrin)
  • Vitamin D (25 OH)
  • Thyroid panel- TSH, T4
  • Immunoglobulin testing for mould (for allergies)

While these tests wont be able to diagnose mould illness by themselves, they can provide important clues as to how your body is functioning. You may need to work with a doctor or health practitioner who is familiar with mould illness to interpret these tests.

COST: Some tests can be funded if ordered through your GP, but others may need to be self-funded and can range from $10-$60 per marker

TEST FIVE

URINE MYCOTOXIN TEST

There are several different labs offering urine mycotoin testing, but we have found Vibrant Wellness Urine Mycotoxin test to be the most comprehensive and sensitive.

While this test will show if there are excessive mycotoxins level in the body, it won't show whether the exposure is current or in the past. The advantages of this test is that it is easy to perform at home, and if a certain mycotoxin is identified you can be more specific with your healing protocol.


Cost $510 USD + interpretation of results/consult

PURCHASE TEST KIT

OTHER TESTING

There are some other tests which can be useful for both directly testing for mould illness, and for checking general body function and health.

SHOEMAKER TESTS

Dr Richie Shoemaker has developed a panel of tests for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (a specific diagnosis of mould Illness). While we haven't used these tests, and are not Shoemaker trained, we can help you to obtain these test kits in New Zealand if needed. These blood tests include

ADH/Osmolality C3a, C4a, Leptin, MMP-9, MSH, PAI-1, TGFb-1, VEGF, VIP

MYCOTOXIN ANTIBODY TEST

This blood test looks at the body's immune response to mycotoxins. It can be useful if you want to know if you are currently being exposed to mould. This test can be ordered here and requires a blood draw. This test requires a certain amount of immune "power" so if you are immune compromised you may not get an accurate result.

ORGANIC ACID TEST (OAT)

This urine test is relatively easy to get in NZ and can be shipped to back to USA. 

The Organic Acids Test (OAT) offers a comprehensive metabolic snapshot of a patient’s overall health with over 70 markers. It provides an accurate evaluation of intestinal yeast and bacteria. While it doesn't test specifically for mycotoxins or mould, it does have several markers that can suggest mould illness including

  • some intestinal fungal markers can indicate colonisation of mould species in the gut
  • high oxalates can be caused by candida and aspergillus colonisation in the gut

We have run alot of these tests in the past and found them to be very useful. Currently, we are not offering interpretations of this test but reach out and we can put you in touch with someone you can help you.

HAIR TISSUE MINERAL ANALYSIS (HTMA)

A HTMA can provide information about mineral levels, heavy metal levels, and also biochemisty. By looking at the ratios and patterns in the test, you can also find out metabolic rates, energy levels, stress response and endocrine function.

These tests are from Analytical Research Labs, Inc., which tests the level of 20 minerals and toxic metals in a sample of hair. It is a tissue mineral biopsy that is non-invasive, relatively inexpensive and very accurate.

COST $130 + intepretation

Purchase HTMA

What tests shall I do ?

This depends on your situation and also your budget. If you just want the best testing, we would generally recommend doing the first 3 steps, a Urinary Mycotoxin Test (or mycotoxin antibody test) and blood tests. An organic acid test (OAT) and Hair Tissue Mineral analysis are also useful for determining overall
health and nutrient/mineral levesl.  Getting all of these tests done means that you can be quite specific with your protocol, and then have the option of retesting down the track to see if the tests have improved.

 For those on a budget. If the first 3 steps are all pointing towards mould illness then you may be able to skip the mycotoxin testing. You may also be able to get some of the blood markers run by your GP

If you need help deciding what tests to run in your situation, or interpreting tests that you have done, you can book a support call with us

BOOK A SUPPORT CALL

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