Testing for Mycotoxins in Your Body

Dr. Fox at the Columbia City Farmers Market holding Lions Mane mushroom.

I’d like to start by saying no test is perfect. There is a great debate amongst my colleagues and peers about best testing options. At the end of the day, we use laboratory testing to guide our clinical judgement, and as we continue to learn and train, those methods evolve.

Currently in my practice, testing for mycotoxins is two-fold: first, what’s being excreted from the body and second, assessment of the what’s being released in the environment at the home, workplace, or vehicle. I’ll post more about that later.

OAT: organic acid testing assesses metabolites, or the compounds created by the body through metabolism. The information provided is both direct and indirect indicators of how the body is working, or if certain types of infections are likely, if nutritional deficiencies exist, and if genetic mutations are causing certain reactions.

Mycotoxin Panel: this test is a direct measure of mycotoxins, or toxic metabolites created by certain mold species, that are being released in the urine. This test can be profoundly helpful for identifying what species are at play within an individual. It can also correlate the symptom picture with specific mycotoxins. Pro-tip, using an oral glutathione 1-2 days before testing provides a clearer picture at what is truly being excreted by the body.

Even if your results come back normal, mycotoxicity can still be creating problems within your system. It’s important to work with a knowledgeable provider to piece together your entire health picture.