Written by Dr. Diane Mueller
Demystifying the blood test for mold illness: your guide to understanding various mold diagnostics. Uncover the science behind HLA-DR, TGFB1, and MMP9 tests, and how they work together to paint a picture of your mold exposure. Empower yourself with knowledge to take control of your health.
Table of Contents
What Is Mold Illness?
Mold illness, scientifically known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), is a serious health condition. It occurs due to exposure to certain types of molds, which produce toxic by-products called mycotoxins. These toxins can cause inflammation in sensitive people, which leads to health problems. Clinically, it’s characterized by a collection of symptoms pertaining to various organ systems in the body. Most hazardous molds are commonly found in damp or water-damaged buildings – a critical point to note for its prevention.
Signs and Symptoms of Mold Exposure
Mold exposure is hard to recognize. Symptoms vary by person, based on their immune response. Mold may cause various symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headaches, and joint pain. It may also cause light sensitivity and memory issues.
Further, symptoms such as respiratory issues, sinus infections, and digestive problems might occur. Many of these symptoms are non-specific, making diagnosis challenging. Understanding these many symptoms shows the need for a good diagnostic tool: the mold illness blood test.
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Blood Tests in Diagnosing Mold Illness
Our prior discussion highlighted the key role of a blood test in diagnosing mold illness. Let’s now explore the types of blood tests used and their reliability.
Types of Blood Tests Used
Several blood tests are paramount for identifying the presence of mold in the body. HLA-DR, TGFB1, and MMP9 tests help in diagnosing mold illnesses.
HLA-DR Test
The HLA-DR test serves as a genetic marker. This test gives vital info about a person’s risk of mold toxin buildup. The test results might seem complicated at first. But, a genetic calculator on myhousemakesmesick.com makes them easy to interpret. The calculator defines if someone is mold or multi-susceptible. It indicates a genetic flaw that prevents the body from recognizing mold toxins. Without this anomaly, mold toxin accumulation is considerably less likely.
TGFB1 Test
Alongside the HLA-DR, the TGFB1 test aids in diagnosing mold illness. It quantifies a specific inflammatory marker, popularly linked with mold-related conditions. Elevated levels indicate more than mere exposure to mold and assist in forming a definitive diagnosis.
MMP9 Test
Like TGFB1, the MMP9 test measures an inflammatory marker linked to mold illness. Many factors can raise these markers. Their rise, along with mold illness symptoms and genetic risk, greatly raises suspicion of mold-induced illness.
These are inflammatory markers that are highly correlated with mold illness. Mold is not the only thing that will elevate these markers, but if you have the symptoms of mold illness (see our blog Black Mold Symptoms), the genetics and elevations of these markers, it is highly likely that your symptoms are caused by mold illness.
How Reliable Are Blood Tests for Mold Illness?
Despite progress, blood tests’ reliability in diagnosing mold illness is still debated. Common antibody tests mainly check for the immune system’s reaction to specific molds. However, the number of mold types that can trigger health issues is extensive, and not all are included in standard immune tests.
It’s challenging to attribute specific symptoms solely to mold exposure based on these tests. So, we must see them as one part of a larger diagnostic approach and combine them with a thorough medical history and symptom analysis.
Also Consider a Urinary Test
Switching our focus now, let’s discuss an alternative: the urinary mycotoxin test. This test isn’t for blood, but rather checks for specific mycotoxins – mold toxins, in urine. Vibrant Wellness is the top choice. Its thorough testing beats other options.
However, it takes some skill to interpret the urine test results. A perfectly healthy person can show mycotoxins in their urine after walking into a moldy area. This is a normal part of the detox process triggered by mold contact. So, just the presence of mold toxins in urine doesn’t serve as a reliable indicator of mold illness.
Consider this scenario as well: A person with a plethora of mold symptoms, coupled with elevated mycotoxin levels in their urine. In this instance, one can, with a degree of certainty, hypothesize that the symptoms most likely stem from the mold toxin build-up. This situation evokes the need to initiate treatments against mold.
In a nutshell, urinary testing is a valuable tool. It adds to the thorough approach to diagnosing mold illness. It works with blood tests, symptom analysis, and medical history.
Key Biomarkers to Monitor in Mold Illness
Into the depths of mold illness diagnostics, let’s delve, considering key biomarkers. Given the earlier discussion, a full diagnosis for mold illness includes: 1. Symptom analysis. 2. Medical history assessment. 3. Urinary mycotoxin tests. 4. Blood tests.
Mycotoxin Antibodies
Our immune system makes antibodies in response to mycotoxins, the toxic substances produced by mold. Aptly named mycotoxin antibodies, they stand as an important marker in diagnosing mold illness.
Mycotoxins invade the body when one breathes in mold spores. They can cause a number of health problems, ranging from minor irritations to severe chronic diseases. These antibodies give doctors an inkling about the level of mold exposure as well as the body’s response to the invasion.
For example, high mycotoxin antibody levels in a sick person might suggest mold illness. The immune system boosts antibody production when it finds harmful intruders, like mycotoxins. Thus, higher levels of mycotoxin antibodies equate to a potential mold illness diagnosis.
Inflammatory Markers
Next, a key biomarker. Mold illness triggers an inflammatory response in the body. Thus, monitoring inflammatory markers provides crucial insight into the disease’s progressive nature.
Notably, two particular markers, Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-a) and Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (TGF-B1), tend to increase with mold illnesses. Let’s examine both:
TNF-a: A cell-signaling protein involved in systemic inflammation. High TNF-a levels often indicate inflammation, which signals an underlying issue, like mold illness.
TGF-B1: Plays a pivotal role in immune system regulation. Elevated TGF-B1 levels signify a hyperactive immune response, often seen in cases of mold illness.
They may sound complex. But, these markers help diagnose a condition. They give doctors a detailed view of the situation at a cellular level. By tracking these biomarkers over time, clinicians can monitor the illness and treatment.
Keep in mind, though, that confirmations do not rest solely on these biomarkers. They are but one cog in the wheel of complex diagnostic procedures, contributing to the overall clinical judgment.
What to Do When Test Positive for Mold
Upon returning a positive result for mold, the journey doesn’t end. In fact, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and embark on a battle against this harmful invader. This section focuses on the remedial measures that one can take after testing positive for mold in their bodies. It covers detoxification strategies and medical treatments necessary to reclaim your health.
Detoxification Strategies
Detoxification stands as a prime course of action once you’ve tested positive for mold. It aids in flushing out mold toxins from your body, offering relief to the affected body system.
Improve indoor air quality: Keeping the indoor air clean cuts down the exposure to mold toxins. For this, air purifiers and dehumidifiers prove to be effective weapons. Mycometrix and Envirobiomics test home are considered the best, so you might consider checking them out.
Use of binders: Binders aid in collecting and safely removing toxins from your body. Use only pharmaceutical-grade binders. Inferior ones often fail to tackle potent mycotoxins.
Support liver function: Liver plays a pivotal role in detoxifying the body. Consuming liver-supporting foods proves to be helpful in this process.
Medical Treatments and Therapies
While you can employ detoxification strategies, sometimes, they don’t suffice. In such cases, seeking medical help is essential. Treating mold illness is complex. Prioritize doctoral advice because they provide a structured approach, beneficial in severe conditions.
Work with a Doctor well-versed in treating mold-related illness. They can guide you on methods such as the use of antifungal drugs or therapies that boost your immune system.
Lab testing: Continue regular lab testing to assess the progress of the treatment. ERMI testing or HERTSMI tests are essential evaluations for mold presence in your home and/or office. Panel 7 by Envirobiomics is expensive. But, it scans for mold toxins and specific bacteria in water-damaged buildings. It goes the extra mile.
Depending on the mold toxicity levels you may need to consider remediation or moving to a new home to get better.
Only then can your your body can heal with mold treatment and detox.
Ultimately, it’s a mix of detoxification strategies and medical treatments that paves the way to a mold-free, healthier life.
Conclusion
The biggest thing with blood tests for mold illness is that you need to be an advocate for yourself to get these done. Most medical professionals are not yet versed on mold illness and how to test and treat for it properly. Therefore, most people will need to find a specialist that works with mold illness in order to get the right testing completed for proper evaluation and treatment.
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Mold Illness and Lyme Disease are Often Misdiagnosed as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Depression,
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