Re: Serum tests for toxins

[Guest guest]

Here is the URL for that article that says that serum tests are not

reliable for determining exposure to Stachy.

http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/org/ps/deodc/ehib/EHIB2/topics/Serologyf2.h

tm

A couple of points they (Ca. Dept of Health Services) make are:

Need more studies.

Problems due to lack of purified or standardized fungal allergen

extracts.

Stachy chartarum antigen can cross-react with antiboides to

Aspergillus funigatus and Alternaria altertnata. So, a positive

S.Chartarum test does not necesarily mean patient has developed

antibodies to S, Chartarum. Patient may have been exposed to some

other fungus that shares some immunologic characteristics with S.

chartarum.

'Don't kknow the true range of antibody concentrations in general

public.

Dificulty in having control groups for studies.

Some case-control studies found no statistically significant

differences in S. chartarum-specific IgG or IgE concentrations

between exposed and control groups.

" The demonstration of mild-specific antibodies alone is generally

considered insufficient to prove that health effects reported by

individuals in moisture-damaged buildings are caused by mold

exposure. Symptoms associated with mold exposure are nonspecific and

vary greatly with individual susceptibility. There are currently no

validated biomarkers of exposure to specific indoor fungi or their

toxins. S. Chartarum serology tests have no clinical application at

this time. They cannot be used to imply the presence of S. chartarum

within a home or workplace environment, nor can they be used to prove

patient exposure to this specific mold or its toxins. "

Well, it's not what I wanted to hear. I have an appointment with my

doctor in a couple of hours -- my first attempt to discuss this with

a health care provider. I was hoping for a test to help me, but

maybe there isn't one yet. (Though, one of my molds in the hosue was

Aspergillis, and it would seem there is a test for that.)

Anyone one know more about this?

> > I found a link (URL below) on Phares Heindl's web page (Thank-

you,

> > sir, for pointing me to your page) and read an article, the gist

of

> > which is that serum tests for mycotoxins are unreliable. This is

> > disappointing. Does anyone have any comment to make on this?

> >

> >

>

http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/org/ps/deodc/ehib/EHIB2/topics/Serologyf2.h

> > tm