Frequently Asked Questions
Category: MycoTOX
To ensure optimal results, it is recommended to ship urine specimens to the laboratory immediately after collection as they start degrading in quality soon after. In case immediate shipping is not possible, here are some guidelines for specimen stability: Urine samples can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and for extended periods in the freezer. This applies to all urine tests performed at MosaicDX, except for the Kryptopyrrole test, for which urine must be frozen immediately and received within 24 hours of collection for accurate results.
A consultation with a Personal Health Instructor on our team is included in the price of the MycoTOX Profile. Once your results are in, you will receive a link to schedule your consultation to review your results.
Symptoms and disease states that have been associated with mycotoxin exposure include the following:
- Alzheimer’s
- Anxiety/Depression
- Asthma
- Autism
- Bronchitis
- Cancer (e.g., Hepatic,
- Esophageal)
- Chronic Fatigue
- Cognitive Impairments
- Headaches
- Infertility
- Inflammatory Bowel
- Disease
- Intestinal Permeability
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Other Mood
- Impairments
- Parkinson’s Disease
Mycotoxins are low molecular weight, secondary metabolites of fungal (mold) compounds which are increasingly recognized as a global health threat given their role in precipitating both acute and chronic adverse health outcomes.
Common fungi sources of mycotoxins include species such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Claviceps. To date nearly 400 potentially toxic mycotoxins produced by more than 100 fungi species have been identified, although research has focused on the most toxigenic in the public health, veterinary, and agricultural realms. Exposure to mycotoxins may occur through a variety of routes such as inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact from airborne mold spores, food contamination, and water-damaged building environments.
Susceptibility to mycotoxins is influenced by a patient’s age, sex, presence of other underlying diseases and/or exposures, nutritional status, and length of exposure. While mycotoxin toxicity may present as an acute state marked by rapid onset with potential life-threatening illness, most of the negative health impacts observed in the developed (Western) world are due to chronic, low-dose exposures. These long-term exposures have been associated with a variety of systemic effects (mycotoxicoses) in both humans and animals – and most commonly manifest as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, immunosuppression, carcinogenicity, and teratogenicity.
Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by certain types of molds – microscopic filamentous fungi that are pervasive in both outdoor and indoor environments. Common routes of exposure to these low-molecular weight compounds include inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion via common contaminated food sources (corn, cereals, ground and tree nuts, spices, dried fruits, apples, coffee, meat, milk, and eggs).
Attention is increasingly being given to indoor air pollution resulting not only from the influx of irritant agents (spores, pollens) from the outdoor environment, but also from the growth of molds, fungi and bacteria on almost all indoor materials (drywall, paint, wallpaper, carpeting, etc.) when excessive moisture is present in high humidity geographic areas or water-damaged buildings. The growth of these biological agents in damp environments leads to the production of spores, cells, fragments and volatile organic compounds which have been linked to a wide range of health hazards, including exacerbation of asthma as well as allergic and infectious respiratory diseases infections.
Adverse health effects may be acute or chronic in nature, and the degree of impact can vary depending on the age, sex, genetics, and underlying health status of the exposed individual, as well as the duration and dose magnitude of the offending substance and their synergistic effects with other mycotoxins.
Because mycotoxins are byproducts of mold metabolism, clinicians assessing symptomatic patients with known mold exposure – or with an environmental history concerning for mold exposure – will also need to consider the concomitant presence of mycotoxins and their potential negative health impact as well.
- Acremonium sp.
- Aureobasidium
- F. graminearum
- Phoma sp.
- Alternaria
- Chaetomium
- F. incarnatum
- Rhodotorula
- A. flavipes
- Cladosporium
- F. moniliforme
- Scopulariopsis
- Aspergillus flavus
- Cunninghamella
- F. solani
- Stachybotrys
- A. fumigatus
- Cylindrocarpon
- F. verticillioides
- S. chartarum
- A. niger
- Dendrodochium
- Myrothecium roridum
- Trichoderma viride
- A. ochraceus
- Exophiala
- M. verrucaria
- Ulocaldium
- A. parasiticus
- Fusarium avenaceum
- Penicillium carbonarius
- Verticillium
- A. sydowii
- F. cerealis
- P. nordicum
- A. versicolor
- F. clumonrum
- P. stoloniferum
- A. viridictum
- F. equiseti
- P. verrucosum
Currently, there are no established guidelines for retesting mycotoxins after intervention. However, some healthcare providers recommend retesting at 3-6 months, 12 months, and annually as part of a wellness screen. Individuals with severe mold and mycotoxin-related illnesses may require more frequent testing.
The MycoTOX profile is designed to accurately detec mycotoxins produced by various toxic molds, However, it does not indicate the location or source of the mold, whether it is in your home, or elsewhere. Mycotoxin exposure can come from both dietary and environmental sourecs. Spoiled food is a dietary sourec, while living or working in water-damaged buildings, airborne or physical ontact with outdoor molds, and airbone dust in buildings containing mold spores are environmental sources.