Specialist Testing · Environmental Exposure
MycoTOX Profile
Mycotoxin Testing
When a client has done everything right and still isn't recovering, mycotoxin exposure is among the most frequently missed drivers. MycoTOX tests for 11 mycotoxins from over 40 mould species in a single urine collection — the most comprehensive mycotoxin panel available in UK private practice.
What MycoTOX Is — and Why It Matters in the UK
MycoTOX is Mosaic Diagnostics' (formerly Great Plains Laboratory) mycotoxin urine profile. It detects 11 mycotoxins produced by over 40 species of mould — using mass spectrometry technology that identifies toxin metabolites being excreted through the kidneys, reflecting current or recent mould exposure and the body's processing of those toxins.
Mycotoxins are the toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain mould species. They are not the mould itself — they are chemical compounds the mould releases that have documented toxic effects on human physiology at exposure levels well below visible mould contamination. A building can have no visible mould and still have mycotoxin levels that affect health, because the toxins persist in dust, materials, and air long after the active mould growth is no longer apparent.
The UK context — why mould exposure is underinvestigated here
~20%
of UK homes have visible damp or mould — a figure that significantly underestimates actual mycotoxin exposure because most mycotoxin-producing mould is hidden behind walls, under floors, or in roof spaces where it is not visible to occupants.
~800+
known mycotoxin compounds have been identified. Most clinical testing panels cover the 11 most clinically relevant and most frequently detected — the ones with the most established human health effects and the most reliable mass spectrometry detection.
Pre-1980
housing stock is at highest risk. UK building materials of that era used organic substrates (timber, paper-faced plasterboard, organic cavity fill) that are ideal mould growth media when moisture intrusion occurs — and UK housing leaks. This is not a hot-climate problem.
0
GP mycotoxin urine tests are available on the NHS. This investigation is invisible to conventional medicine in the UK. A client can present with the full mycotoxin syndrome — fatigue, cognitive impairment, recurrent respiratory symptoms, chemical sensitivity — and receive no investigation of the environmental driver.
The 11 Mycotoxins Tested
The panel covers the mycotoxins most associated with human health effects and most likely to be encountered in indoor environments in the UK and Europe. Mass spectrometry is used for all 11 — the most accurate detection method available for urine mycotoxin analysis.
| Mycotoxin |
Producing mould |
Primary health effects |
Common sources |
| Aflatoxin B1 |
Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus |
Hepatotoxic, carcinogenic (Group 1 IARC), immunosuppressive HIGH |
Food contamination (grains, nuts); HVAC systems |
| Aflatoxin B2 |
Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus |
Hepatotoxic, genotoxic, immunosuppressive HIGH |
Food contamination; building environments |
| Aflatoxin G1/G2 |
Aspergillus species |
Hepatotoxic, carcinogenic HIGH |
Food and building environments |
| Ochratoxin A |
Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillium verrucosum |
Nephrotoxic (kidney damage), immunosuppressive, possible carcinogen HIGH |
Water-damaged buildings; cereal crops; coffee |
| Trichothecenes (Satratoxin G/H) |
Stachybotrys chartarum (black mould) |
Highly immunotoxic, neurotoxic, haemorrhagic, respiratory damage HIGH |
Wet cellulose materials — drywall, ceiling tiles, wood |
| Zearalenone |
Fusarium graminearum |
Oestrogenic — binds oestrogen receptors, disrupts HPG axis MOD |
Grain crops; water-damaged building materials |
| Deoxynivalenol (DON / Vomitoxin) |
Fusarium species |
Gastrointestinal toxicity, immune disruption, appetite suppression MOD |
Cereal grains (wheat, barley, oats, maize) |
| Fumonisins (B1/B2) |
Fusarium moniliforme |
Disrupts sphingolipid metabolism; possible carcinogen; oesophageal and liver toxicity MOD |
Maize and maize products |
| Gliotoxin |
Aspergillus fumigatus |
Immunosuppressive, inhibits phagocytosis, pro-apoptotic MOD |
Aspergillus lung colonisation; building environments |
| Mycophenolic acid |
Penicillium species |
Immunosuppressive, teratogenic at high doses; antiproliferative MOD |
Water-damaged buildings; food contamination |
Clinical note — Ochratoxin A in the UK
Ochratoxin A is the most commonly detected mycotoxin in UK clinical testing. It is produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species — both of which thrive in the cool, damp conditions typical of UK building environments, particularly older housing stock with intermittent heating and poor ventilation. Ochratoxin A is nephrotoxic and immunosuppressive at chronic low-level exposure — the kind of exposure that accumulates over years of living or working in a water-damaged building without visible mould. It is also found in coffee, wine, dried fruits, and cereals, meaning dietary exposure compounds building exposure for many people.
The Mycotoxin Symptom Picture
Mycotoxin illness does not present as a neat diagnostic category. It mimics and overlaps with multiple other conditions — which is why it is so frequently missed. The symptom clusters below represent the most commonly reported patterns in individuals with confirmed mycotoxin exposure. The presence of multiple clusters simultaneously, particularly in someone who has not responded to standard clinical interventions, is the strongest clinical indicator that mycotoxin testing is warranted.
Neurological
Cognitive and Brain Symptoms
- Brain fog — difficulty with word retrieval, concentration
- Memory impairment
- Headaches — often described as pressure or fullness
- Mood changes — anxiety, depression, irritability
- Sleep disturbance despite fatigue
- Tremors or coordination difficulties (severe cases)
Respiratory
Airway and Lung Symptoms
- Chronic sinusitis — recurrent, treatment-resistant
- Asthma or asthma-like symptoms
- Recurrent respiratory infections
- Cough without infection
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Nosebleeds (with Stachybotrys / trichothecene exposure)
Immune
Immune Dysregulation
- Recurrent infections — viral and bacterial
- Chemical sensitivity — reactions to low-level chemicals
- Food sensitivities developing or worsening
- Autoimmune conditions developing or flaring
- Mast cell activation symptoms
- Slow wound healing
Gastrointestinal
Gut Symptoms
- Nausea — particularly with Fusarium / DON exposure
- Appetite suppression or changes
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Diarrhoea
- Gut dysbiosis not responding to standard treatment
- Leaky gut / intestinal permeability
Hormonal
Endocrine Disruption
- Menstrual irregularities (Zearalenone — oestrogenic)
- Oestrogen dominance symptoms worsening
- Thyroid function disruption
- Adrenal fatigue patterns that don't respond to support
- Fertility concerns
- Cortisol pattern disruption
Musculoskeletal
Body and Energy Symptoms
- Profound unexplained fatigue
- Muscle pain, weakness, or aching
- Joint pain without inflammatory markers
- Post-exertional malaise
- Temperature dysregulation
- Night sweats
Who This Test Is For
The clinical trigger for MycoTOX is a pattern rather than a single symptom — specifically, a client who is not recovering despite appropriate interventions, where the standard investigation has not identified a sufficient explanation for the clinical picture. The following presentations warrant mycotoxin investigation:
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Water Damage or Damp History
Anyone who has lived or worked in a building with known or suspected water damage, visible damp patches, musty odour, condensation problems, or previous flooding — even years ago. Mycotoxins persist in building materials long after moisture issues are repaired, and exposure continues through dust.
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Treatment-Resistant Presentations
Clients who have done the gut work, the hormone work, the dietary work — and are still not recovering. When the clinical investigation has been thorough and the protocols appropriate but improvement has stalled or been partial, mycotoxin exposure as a persistent background driver is the investigation that frequently explains the residual picture.
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Unexplained Cognitive Symptoms
Brain fog, word retrieval difficulty, memory problems, and concentration impairment — particularly when these symptoms are disproportionate to other findings. Mycotoxins cross the blood-brain barrier and have direct neurotoxic effects. Cognitive symptoms are among the most common and most disabling presentations of mycotoxin illness.
🌬️
Chronic Sinusitis and Respiratory Issues
Treatment-resistant sinusitis, recurrent respiratory infections, chronic cough, or asthma that doesn't respond adequately to standard treatment. Aspergillus and Penicillium species in particular colonise the sinuses and airways — MycoTOX can identify the toxin burden even when imaging and cultures are unremarkable.
⚡
Post-COVID or Post-Viral Syndrome
Post-viral syndrome and mycotoxin illness share symptom profiles — fatigue, cognitive impairment, immune dysregulation, post-exertional malaise. If a client's post-COVID recovery has stalled and the viral mechanism doesn't fully account for the clinical picture, mycotoxin co-exposure is worth investigating as a compounding or independent driver.
🔬
Mast Cell Activation or Chemical Sensitivity
New or worsening chemical sensitivities, multiple food reactions, and mast cell activation patterns are strongly associated with mycotoxin exposure — particularly Ochratoxin A and trichothecenes. If MCAS or chemical sensitivity appears without clear prior history, environmental mycotoxin exposure is among the first differential considerations.
Environmental Assessment — The Questions That Matter
MycoTOX confirms mycotoxin body burden. But identifying and addressing the source of exposure is equally important — without environmental remediation, detoxification support will be limited by ongoing re-exposure. Before ordering MycoTOX, or alongside the test, the following environmental questions are clinically relevant:
Environmental exposure history — key questions
- Any history of water damage, flooding, or leaks in current home?
- Any musty or earthy smell in any room of the home?
- Visible mould — even small patches — in bathroom, kitchen, windowsills?
- Condensation on windows or walls, particularly in winter?
- Age of property — pre-1980 housing at significantly higher risk
- Flat roof, basement, or poorly ventilated loft space?
- Any history of water damage in workplace?
- Symptoms worse at home than when travelling or staying elsewhere?
- Symptoms worse in particular rooms or parts of the building?
- Other occupants of the same building with similar symptoms?
- HVAC or air handling system in workplace — when last serviced?
- Previous employer or school building with known damp issues?
Important — testing the environment
If MycoTOX results are positive and an environmental source is suspected, professional environmental mould testing is the appropriate next step — not simply cleaning visible mould. ERMI testing (Environmental Relative Mouldiness Index) of dust samples, or air sampling by a qualified environmental assessor, can identify the mould species present and guide remediation. MycoTOX results combined with environmental testing provide the most complete picture of exposure source, severity, and appropriate intervention.
How the Test Works
1
Consultation and clinical assessment
We discuss your symptom history, building and environmental history, and current clinical picture. MycoTOX is ordered when the symptom pattern and environmental history suggest mycotoxin exposure as a plausible driver. The clinical assessment also helps identify whether EnviroTOX — which adds glyphosate and broader environmental toxin testing — is more appropriate for your presentation.
2
Preparation — creatine loading
MycoTOX accuracy is improved by creatine loading in the days before the test — creatine supplementation increases mycotoxin excretion in urine by mobilising toxins from tissue stores. Specific preparation instructions are provided with the kit. This is an important step that significantly improves test sensitivity, particularly for clients with lower muscle mass or reduced toxin excretion.
3
First-morning urine collection
The MycoTOX kit is sent to your home address. Collection is a single first-morning urine sample with a prepaid return envelope to the Mosaic laboratory. The same collection method as the standard OAT — straightforward and non-invasive. No clinic visit required.
4
Mass spectrometry analysis
Mosaic uses LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) — the gold standard analytical method for mycotoxin detection in urine. Results are reported in ppb (parts per billion) with reference ranges and a clinical interpretive report. Turnaround is typically 10–14 days from sample receipt.
5
Results interpretation and protocol
We review which mycotoxins are elevated, at what levels, and what that means for the clinical picture. Positive results drive both an environmental assessment recommendation and a detoxification and support protocol — typically including binders (activated charcoal, cholestyramine, or clay), liver support, glutathione repletion, and where relevant, antifungal considerations. The protocol is sequenced carefully — aggressive detoxification without adequate drainage and support can worsen symptoms.
MycoTOX Alongside Other Tests
MycoTOX is most powerful when interpreted in the context of other functional test findings. Several common patterns emerge when mycotoxin results are read alongside the OAT and GI-MAP:
MycoTOX + OAT
The organic acids test will often show elevated arabinose and other yeast markers — because mycotoxin exposure disrupts the gut microbiome and creates conditions that favour yeast overgrowth. High oxalate markers on the OAT are also associated with Aspergillus exposure, since Aspergillus species produce oxalate. Seeing elevated yeast markers on the OAT alongside a history of environmental mould exposure is a clinical signal to order MycoTOX as the next investigative step.
MycoTOX + GI-MAP
Mycotoxin exposure increases intestinal permeability and creates conditions for dysbiosis. A GI-MAP in someone with high mycotoxin burden will frequently show elevated opportunistic organisms, immune marker disruption (sIgA suppression is common with Ochratoxin A), and elevated intestinal inflammation markers. Treating the gut without addressing the mycotoxin source creates a revolving door of dysbiosis that doesn't fully resolve.
MycoTOX + DUTCH Plus
Zearalenone is directly oestrogenic — it binds oestrogen receptors and can drive oestrogen dominance patterns on the DUTCH. If oestrogen dominance is identified on the DUTCH in a client with environmental exposure history, Zearalenone from the MycoTOX adds an environmental driver explanation to what might otherwise be attributed purely to endogenous hormone balance.
Consider EnviroTOX Complete instead
If broader environmental toxin exposure is suspected — not just mould but agricultural chemicals, glyphosate, industrial solvents, or heavy metals — the EnviroTOX Complete Panel at £819 combines mycotoxin testing with the ToxDetect environmental chemical panel and glyphosate testing in one collection. See the EnviroTOX Complete page for details. MycoTOX alone is the right choice when mould exposure is the primary clinical suspicion; EnviroTOX is the choice when the environmental picture is broader or less clearly defined.
Pricing and Ordering
MycoTOX Profile — Mosaic Diagnostics via Nordic Laboratories
Test fee (client price)
£398
Results interpretation consultation
£145
Total for test plus interpretation
£543
Test fee is paid directly when ordering. Creatine loading preparation protocol is included with the kit — follow it carefully for optimal test sensitivity. If EnviroTOX Complete is more appropriate for your clinical picture (mould plus broader environmental chemicals) this is available at £819 — discuss with Stephen at consultation. Prices correct at July 2026.
Is mould exposure part of your clinical picture?
Book an initial consultation to discuss your symptom history and environmental history. We'll determine whether MycoTOX, EnviroTOX Complete, or a different investigation is the right next step for your specific presentation.
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