Mold & Mycotoxin Testing
Organic Acids Test & MycoTOX Profile
Ask someone if they think they’ve been exposed to toxic mold, and the answer will likely be “no.” But try asking any of the questions below, and you’ll almost always get a different answer:
Have you ever had a water leak in your home, at work, or at school? (Think wet patches on the concrete, discolored ceiling tiles, or that dripping AC unit…)
Does anywhere in your home, work, or school have a musty smell? (Bathrooms, kitchens, and basements are the most common culprits at home.)
Do you or your family have symptoms such as persistent coughing, sneezing, congestion, or sore throat without a clear cause? (Or maybe your allergies always seem to get worse at home or at work?)
All of these are warning signs of potential toxic mold exposure.
Unfortunately, mold exposure is very common and the symptoms are varied, making it a challenge to connect the dots. That’s why we like a pair of tests when mold exposure is suspected. You may choose to take the OAT (Organic Acids test) or the MycoTOX Profile, depending on your history and symptoms.
How does mold testing work?
Just as every Ann Arbor Holistic Health wellness plan is both comprehensive and personalized, so is the testing that might be right for you. In the case of mold and mycotoxins, your preferred testing will be based on the details you share with your practitioner.
Organic Acids Test
For many folks, the right answer is the OAT (Organic Acids Test). The OAT casts a wide net, in the same way that most bloodwork does. It gives you a range of information that can offer insight into your gut health, neurotransmitters, energy production, nutritional status, and detoxification capability.
The OAT measures the byproducts (organic acids) produced by a number of metabolic processes in the body. Organic acids are the small molecules that result from your body breaking down food and chemicals, as well as the different compounds your body makes to help you live, breathe, and think. The OAT is our go-to when your symptoms align with potential mold exposure, but other root causes may be in play.
MycoTOX Test
MycoTOX is a comprehensive test that examines environmental exposure for 11 varieties of mycotoxins from 40 different species of mold. Mycotoxins are toxic chemicals produced by mold, so if there’s mold in your environment, MycoTOX can show you whether it’s having an impact on your body.
Both the OAT and MycoTOX use a urine sample. Urine testing is widely used to look for mold and mycotoxin exposure because it capitalizes on your body’s natural detoxification pathways. Your liver processes mold toxins, then eliminates them through your kidneys. As a result, a urine sample is an easy, convenient way to get useful information about any mold exposure your body is currently dealing with.
When should you suspect mold?
Mold needs all of the same things you do to thrive: water, warmth, and nutrients. And mold isn’t picky about where that happens. Toxic mold can grow anywhere that is humid or damp, and it happily feasts on fabrics, drywall, carpet, paint, or wallpaper. That includes everything from curtains and stuffed animals to old photo albums and those cardboard boxes in the attic.
Mold is certainly present if you can see visible growth in any part of your home or workplace. A musty odor is also a dead giveaway, though not all types of mold create a bad smell. Most importantly, think about past events and whether conditions were right for mold.
Live in a spot with hot, humid summers? Ever have trouble with your roof or plumbing? Any building materials or personal belongings that got wet and stayed that way for over 24 hours? If the answer is yes to any of these, then consider testing for toxic mold exposure.
Remember, symptoms of mold exposure are often silent for years, so the issue may have happened in the distant past. That basement flood three years ago could be causing your brain fog, wheezing, or chronic headaches now.
Where can I get mold testing?
How to Test for Mold Exposure
You’ve got options! The OAT is an affordable way to get multiple data points that are useful in identifying the root causes of symptoms, and it's a frequent flier in our practice. Or there’s Option #2: MycoTOX is the most comprehensive and competitively priced mold toxicity test kit available, and we love how specific the results are. Your Ann Arbor Holistic Health practitioner can help you decide which test is right for you.
If you suspect mold or mycotoxin exposure, get started right away by scheduling a free Comprehensive Consultation & Evaluation, either online or in person at our practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Your Ann Arbor Holistic Health practitioner will devote 45 minutes to learning about your health history, your symptoms, and your needs to see whether mold testing makes sense for you. If so, the right test is easily ordered, and you can mail your urine sample from home.
Your practitioner will then help you create a comprehensive wellness plan based on your OAT or MycoTOX results, as well as your nutrition, habits, and personal health goals.
What are the symptoms of mold or mycotoxin exposure?
Mold Testing Near Me
Some people get sicker with mold exposure than others. That’s because some of us have genetic variations that limit our ability to filter and attack toxins in the body. Your current overall health also plays an important role.
Symptoms of mold and mycotoxin exposure can be diverse and may include:
Respiratory issues: Persistent coughing, wheezing, or nasal congestion
Skin problems: Rashes, itching, or irritation
Neurological symptoms: Headaches, memory problems, or difficulty concentrating
Fatigue: Constant tiredness or low energy levels
Digestive problems: Nausea, abdominal pain, or diarrhea
Joint and muscle pain: Unexplained aches or weakness
Mood changes: Anxiety, depression, or mood swings
Immune system issues: Frequent infections or a weakened immune response
How you respond to mold exposure will vary based on a number of factors. If your detox pathways are sluggish or your immune system is not in top shape, if you have too much histamine in your body or you’re under constant stress, the effects of mold will be more pronounced. Likewise, a little mold in your environment may not be problematic, but if you’re exposed to a lot of mold or exposed to mold for a long period of time, that plays a role in symptom intensity as well.
We are all the culmination of a lifetime of experiences: every meal we’ve eaten, every trauma we’ve been through, every good day we’ve spent with our bestie, every toxin we’ve put in our body getting ready in the morning, every time we hit 5,000 steps for the day, and every moldy basement apartment we lived in during college.
You don’t have to be perfect with your diet and lifestyle to be healthy, you just have to do enough good to outweigh the bad and keep a positive balance. Identifying mold or mycotoxin exposure is one of the first steps in creating and maintaining that balance, using a targeted wellness plan that allows you to take control of your health and well-being.
Contact Ann Arbor Holistic Health today to learn more about mold and mycotoxins testing and whether the OAT or MycoTOX Profile is right for you.