Available testing methods
Spirometric tests: “Spirometry” is a general term for a physiological test that measures lung function. These tests are much more commonly used in measuring human exposure to molds. There are many forms of spirometric tests, and they are often used in diagnosing other sorts of respiratory disorders (such as asthma). They may indicate human exposure to molds because inhaled fungus often results in impaired lung function or respiratory in humans. Here are some of the commonly used tests in measuring exposure to molds:
Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1): In this test, the subject tries to exhale this highest volume of air possible in one second of a forced expiration. A person with normally functioning lungs can typically exhale 75% or more of their total lung capacity within one second.
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): This basic test measures the total amount of air that a person can exhale from their lungs. It differs from the FEV1 test because there is no timed expiration; instead, the important factor is the maximum expiration potential of the subject.
Single Breath Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity (DLCO): This test, somewhat more complicated than the previous ones, measures the body’s ability to exchange gases within the lungs. In this test, subjects inhale gas containing carbon monoxide; doctors can then monitor the levels of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream to study how well the lungs are allowing gases exchange across capillary membranes.
Skin prick tests: In these tests, similar to how doctors test for allergies, a person may be pricked with a mold allergen. If an allergic reaction occurs, or there is measurable production of certain human antibodies known to fight molds, then that could indicate human exposure to molds. For example, “IgE” is a common mold-induced antibody within the human body. These tests, however, are not performed nearly as often as the spirometric tests and can often produce misleading results. Because humans are exposed to molds in small amounts on a daily basis, this test can produce a false positive even the person has not been exposed to a dangerous amount of mold.
Measuring white blood cell counts: Though this test is not widely used when determining mold exposure, a person’s white blood cell (WBC) count can indicate that exposure has taken place. A higher than normal number of T-lymphocyte cells and natural killer cells—the body’s generalized defense system against foreign substances—can indicate higher than normal activity of the immune system, perhaps because of mold exposure.
The first commercial application of this chemiluminescent assay (CLA) is the measurement of total IgE and allergen-specific IgE in human serum. The CLA system is a second-generation adaptation of the MAST RIA allergy profiling system. The MAST CLA system assay protocol consists of three steps: overnight incubation of serum, a 4-h incubation with enzyme-labeled antibody, and a 30-min chemiluminescent reaction, which produces a visible image (immunograph) on high-speed Polaroid instant film. The densities of the bands produced on the film are quantified with an inexpensive microprocessor-controlled infrared transmittance densitometer. The novel luminogenic substrates used yield a constant light output for over 2 h with an intensity at least 10-fold greater than that of commercial chemiluminescent reagents. The MAST CLA system exhibits sensitivity, specificity, and precision equal to that of the MAST RIA system (r = 0.96 for 40 serum samples analyzed with 25 allergens). As many as 35 different allergens per sample can be quantified in a single assay. The MAST CLA system requires no standard curve or volume-dependent pipetting steps, incorporates both positive and negative controls for each sample, and quantifies allergen-specific IgE at picomolar concentrations.
Airborne fungi have been postulated as a cause of symptoms among office workers. Using the MAST chemiluminescent system, this study evaluated 36 IgG and 36 IgE antibody levels in 47 office workers from an area with elevated airborne fungal concentrations and 44 office workers from an otherwise similar area with lower airborne fungal exposure. No difference was found in IgG antibody to fungi between the lower and higher exposure areas, but high IgG antibody to one or more of the fungi studied was detected in 67% of all the workers tested. IgE antibody to one or more antigens was detected in 40% of the participants. Workers who reported atopic symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes) or "sick building" symptoms (any three of the following temporally related to work: headache, fatigue, stuffy nose, irritated eyes, or sore throat) were more likely to have one positive IgE antibody test. Type I hypersensitivity to aeroallergens besides fungi may play a role in some symptoms reported by some participants in this office building.
Dr. William Croft in Wisconsin is currently conducting a urine tricothecene test. The test is simple, yet a bit costly. Soon, there will be more types of these tests available to the public. There is also the availability of a series of *serum antibodies tests available through Immunosciences Lab, Inc. Additionally, Great Smokies Laboratories also has many tests that can be taken to determine antibodies levels as well as environmental toxic levels. Their tests are easy to take, yet costly.
Because stachybotrys doesn't sporulate in the bloodstream the same as the other molds, it is very difficult to detect in a blood antibody test, so one of these serum tests can be fruitless if a patient is looking primarily for stachybotrys. Stachybotrys, however, is almost always found in families with many other molds which are toxic and these molds can be measured by the blood antibodies tests.
Some important things to remember about testing:
Allergy evaluation by skin or an invitro test for the detection of IgE mediated allergies are not enough for patients exposed to toxigenic molds in water-damaged building environments.
Depending on the individual immune response to toxigenic mold antigens, some people may respond by producing IgG, while others may produce IgM and IgA antibodies against different fungal antigens.
The measurement of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against toxigenic molds is necessary for the detection of exposure to mold spores antigens and mycotoxins.
Intranasal and enteric exposure to mold antigens and mycotoxins leads to the production of specific IgA antibodies in saliva and other secretions.
In addition to IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in the blood, the measurement of total specific salivary IgA against mold antigens and mycotoxins is necessary in order to increase the sensitivity and specificity of mold exposure detection.
Different parameters pertaining to the cellular (T-cell, B-cell, helper’s suppressor cell numbers, NK cell activity, T- and B-cell function, apoptosis) and the humoral immune system (immunoglobulins, C3 and C4 complement, immune complexes, ANA, thyroid and other tissue antibodies) should be measured for documentation of immune competency dysfunction in patients exposed to toxigenic molds.
Detection of auto-antibodies against MBP, MAG, gangliosides, sulfatide, chondroitin sulfate, glutamate receptor, cerebellar, Purkinje cells, neuron-axon filament protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, tubulin, and other neurological antigens, indicating a neurotoxicity process initiated by toxigenic molds, which may result in: chronic sensory neuropathy, demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathies or Multiple Sclerosis-Like Syndrome.
lisää asiaa:
http://www.mold-survivor.com/fungalexposure.htm
Spirometric tests: “Spirometry” is a general term for a physiological test that measures lung function. These tests are much more commonly used in measuring human exposure to molds. There are many forms of spirometric tests, and they are often used in diagnosing other sorts of respiratory disorders (such as asthma). They may indicate human exposure to molds because inhaled fungus often results in impaired lung function or respiratory in humans. Here are some of the commonly used tests in measuring exposure to molds:
Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1): In this test, the subject tries to exhale this highest volume of air possible in one second of a forced expiration. A person with normally functioning lungs can typically exhale 75% or more of their total lung capacity within one second.
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): This basic test measures the total amount of air that a person can exhale from their lungs. It differs from the FEV1 test because there is no timed expiration; instead, the important factor is the maximum expiration potential of the subject.
Single Breath Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity (DLCO): This test, somewhat more complicated than the previous ones, measures the body’s ability to exchange gases within the lungs. In this test, subjects inhale gas containing carbon monoxide; doctors can then monitor the levels of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream to study how well the lungs are allowing gases exchange across capillary membranes.
Skin prick tests: In these tests, similar to how doctors test for allergies, a person may be pricked with a mold allergen. If an allergic reaction occurs, or there is measurable production of certain human antibodies known to fight molds, then that could indicate human exposure to molds. For example, “IgE” is a common mold-induced antibody within the human body. These tests, however, are not performed nearly as often as the spirometric tests and can often produce misleading results. Because humans are exposed to molds in small amounts on a daily basis, this test can produce a false positive even the person has not been exposed to a dangerous amount of mold.
Measuring white blood cell counts: Though this test is not widely used when determining mold exposure, a person’s white blood cell (WBC) count can indicate that exposure has taken place. A higher than normal number of T-lymphocyte cells and natural killer cells—the body’s generalized defense system against foreign substances—can indicate higher than normal activity of the immune system, perhaps because of mold exposure.
The first commercial application of this chemiluminescent assay (CLA) is the measurement of total IgE and allergen-specific IgE in human serum. The CLA system is a second-generation adaptation of the MAST RIA allergy profiling system. The MAST CLA system assay protocol consists of three steps: overnight incubation of serum, a 4-h incubation with enzyme-labeled antibody, and a 30-min chemiluminescent reaction, which produces a visible image (immunograph) on high-speed Polaroid instant film. The densities of the bands produced on the film are quantified with an inexpensive microprocessor-controlled infrared transmittance densitometer. The novel luminogenic substrates used yield a constant light output for over 2 h with an intensity at least 10-fold greater than that of commercial chemiluminescent reagents. The MAST CLA system exhibits sensitivity, specificity, and precision equal to that of the MAST RIA system (r = 0.96 for 40 serum samples analyzed with 25 allergens). As many as 35 different allergens per sample can be quantified in a single assay. The MAST CLA system requires no standard curve or volume-dependent pipetting steps, incorporates both positive and negative controls for each sample, and quantifies allergen-specific IgE at picomolar concentrations.
Airborne fungi have been postulated as a cause of symptoms among office workers. Using the MAST chemiluminescent system, this study evaluated 36 IgG and 36 IgE antibody levels in 47 office workers from an area with elevated airborne fungal concentrations and 44 office workers from an otherwise similar area with lower airborne fungal exposure. No difference was found in IgG antibody to fungi between the lower and higher exposure areas, but high IgG antibody to one or more of the fungi studied was detected in 67% of all the workers tested. IgE antibody to one or more antigens was detected in 40% of the participants. Workers who reported atopic symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes) or "sick building" symptoms (any three of the following temporally related to work: headache, fatigue, stuffy nose, irritated eyes, or sore throat) were more likely to have one positive IgE antibody test. Type I hypersensitivity to aeroallergens besides fungi may play a role in some symptoms reported by some participants in this office building.
Dr. William Croft in Wisconsin is currently conducting a urine tricothecene test. The test is simple, yet a bit costly. Soon, there will be more types of these tests available to the public. There is also the availability of a series of *serum antibodies tests available through Immunosciences Lab, Inc. Additionally, Great Smokies Laboratories also has many tests that can be taken to determine antibodies levels as well as environmental toxic levels. Their tests are easy to take, yet costly.
Because stachybotrys doesn't sporulate in the bloodstream the same as the other molds, it is very difficult to detect in a blood antibody test, so one of these serum tests can be fruitless if a patient is looking primarily for stachybotrys. Stachybotrys, however, is almost always found in families with many other molds which are toxic and these molds can be measured by the blood antibodies tests.
Some important things to remember about testing:
Allergy evaluation by skin or an invitro test for the detection of IgE mediated allergies are not enough for patients exposed to toxigenic molds in water-damaged building environments.
Depending on the individual immune response to toxigenic mold antigens, some people may respond by producing IgG, while others may produce IgM and IgA antibodies against different fungal antigens.
The measurement of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against toxigenic molds is necessary for the detection of exposure to mold spores antigens and mycotoxins.
Intranasal and enteric exposure to mold antigens and mycotoxins leads to the production of specific IgA antibodies in saliva and other secretions.
In addition to IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in the blood, the measurement of total specific salivary IgA against mold antigens and mycotoxins is necessary in order to increase the sensitivity and specificity of mold exposure detection.
Different parameters pertaining to the cellular (T-cell, B-cell, helper’s suppressor cell numbers, NK cell activity, T- and B-cell function, apoptosis) and the humoral immune system (immunoglobulins, C3 and C4 complement, immune complexes, ANA, thyroid and other tissue antibodies) should be measured for documentation of immune competency dysfunction in patients exposed to toxigenic molds.
Detection of auto-antibodies against MBP, MAG, gangliosides, sulfatide, chondroitin sulfate, glutamate receptor, cerebellar, Purkinje cells, neuron-axon filament protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, tubulin, and other neurological antigens, indicating a neurotoxicity process initiated by toxigenic molds, which may result in: chronic sensory neuropathy, demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathies or Multiple Sclerosis-Like Syndrome.
lisää asiaa:
http://www.mold-survivor.com/fungalexposure.htm
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