Blood serum testing for mycotoxin antibodies have been used for the last 20 years and are highly accurate. The specificity and sensitivity of blood serum testing for the presence of IgG and IgE antibodies to mycotoxins in the blood are of the highest degree. Antibodies to mycotoxins form adduct and bind to human tissue and may trigger autoimmunity. Antibodies also show the body burden to mycotoxins. Therefore, the measurement of antibodies against mycotoxins is clinically much more meaningful than measuring metabolites of mycotoxins in urine.

Urine testing does not test for mycotoxins: it tests for their metabolites, so the accuracy is much lower. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), low levels of mycotoxins are found in many foods. For that reason, they are routinely present in the urine of healthy people. Therefore, it does not mean that the person is suffering from any disease or disorder related to molds or mycotoxins. The most important point is that if you have mycotoxins in urine it is a good thing: the body is doing its job of getting rid of mycotoxins from foods and beverages. Urine is an excretion and does not reflect disease.

The one most overwhelming symptom is fatigue. You are as tired when you go to bed as when you wake up. Here are more symptoms:

• Short-term memory loss

• Headaches

• Confused easily or changes in ability to learn

• Frequently saying the wrong word

• Blurred vision or visual episodes

• Seizures

• Loss of equilibrium

• Light headedness and feeling “spaced out”

• Ringing in ears

• Paralysis

• Blackouts

• Intolerance of bright lights

• Intolerance to alcohol

• Decreased libido; low testosterone

• Sores that will not heal

• Bruise easily

• Twitching muscles

• Joint aches and pains

• Shortness of breath, cough

• Abdominal pain and discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome

• Hair loss

• Tremors

• Numbness and tingling in hands and fingers, feet and toes

• Nosebleeds

• Skin rashes

• Chronic sinusitis

• Painful lymph nodes

• Severe nasal and other allergies

• Sleep disturbance

• Abnormal weight gain and/or loss

• Low grade fever or feeling hot often

• Night sweats

• Uncomfortable and/or frequent urination

• Hair loss

• Dry eyes and mouth

• Frequent canker sores in mouth

• Cold hands and feet

• Thyroid inflammation

• Multiple sensitivities to medicines, foods, and other substances

Molds produce toxins known as mycotoxins. Molds are ALWAYS present in homes or workplaces that are water damaged and they are ALWAYS producing mycotoxins. Even small amounts of mold growth in the air conditioning or ducts will result in the occupants being chronically exposed, constantly breathing mold spores and their mycotoxins, resulting in illnesses. Many people cannot see any indoor mold growth: the E.P.A. cautions that approximately 50% of the fungal growth can be hidden, i.e. hidden from view.

The first rule of toxicology is: get the patient away from the toxin or the toxin away from the patient. Until you leave the toxic environment, no amount of treatment will help and you will get worse and worse.

Mycotoxins are linked to many common diseases, including Autoimmune Diseases, POTS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Lyme, etc. This is why the World Health Organization calls mycotoxins The Great Masquerader.

If you have been exposed to molds and mycotoxins and you feel unwell and sick, most likely you have been exposed to mycotoxins. Molds can make you feel sick as can mycotoxins. Molds are the gun, mycotoxins are the bullet. Mycotoxins affect health more severely.

The most accurate testing for mycotoxin exposure is by blood serum antibody testing for 12 different mycotoxins by far. Urine testing doesn’t test for as many mycotoxins nor is it precise, as urine testing is for mycotoxin metabolites, not mycotoxins as in the blood test.