Understanding Your Mycotoxin Lab Results

Your report has two main pages of results. The first page shows your IgG antibody levels for each of the 14 mycotoxins in the panel. The second page shows your IgE antibody levels for the same 14 mycotoxins. That’s 28 individual data points from a single blood draw.

Each mycotoxin is listed by name with a numerical value next to it. A horizontal bar shows visually where your result falls within the reference range from normal to the highest tier. Below the results pages, the report includes an educational section with brief, evidence-based explanations of each mycotoxin and what it can do to the body.

Every result on your report is measured against a reference range specific to that mycotoxin. Values below the threshold for each analyte are considered normal; meaning no significant antibody response was detected.

Above that threshold, results are graded on a four-tier scale. IgG and IgE use different scales because the two antibody types behave differently in the body.

IgG tiers: (+) mild · (++) moderate · (+++) elevated · (++++) significant or positive
IgE tiers: (+) mild · (++) moderate · (+++) elevated · (++++) significant or positive

(The specific numeric cutoffs for each mycotoxin are included in your physician’s copy of the report.)

How to read your bars: Each colored bar shows where your result falls within the scale. A result in the (+) range indicates a mild immune response. A result in the (++++) range indicates a significant or positive one,  your body has mounted a strong reaction to that mycotoxin.

Example: If a patient’s Satratoxin IgE result falls in the (+++) range (illustrative, not actual reference values), that indicates an elevated immune response to this toxin, which is produced by Stachybotrys (“black mold”). Your physician will interpret this alongside your full panel and symptom history.

You have several options for the blood draw itself, and the right one depends on what’s most convenient for you.

Your primary care physician’s office is often the simplest option. Most doctors’ offices are familiar with processing outside lab kits. Just call ahead, let them know you’re bringing your own collection materials, and book a standard blood draw appointment.

AnyLabTestNow has over 220 locations across the U.S. and handles walk-in blood draws. You can visit their website to find a location near you.

Travalab offers mobile phlebotomy in most of the U.S. A phlebotomist comes to your home, which can be especially helpful if you’re dealing with fatigue, mobility issues, or a packed schedule.

Mobile phlebotomy services are also widely available in most cities. Searching “mobile phlebotomy” plus your city name will usually turn up several options.

IgG is the most abundant antibody in human blood. When your report shows an elevated IgG level for a specific mycotoxin, it means your immune system has recognized that toxin and mounted a response. This can reflect your current body burden — how much of that mycotoxin your immune system is actively responding to right now.

Elevated IgG can also indicate colonization from a previous exposure. Mold can colonize areas of the body, most commonly the sinuses and lungs, and continue producing mycotoxins even after you’ve left the original environment. In these cases, IgG levels remain elevated because the immune system is still reacting to an ongoing internal source.

IgG results don’t tell you whether you’re being actively exposed to mold in your current environment — that’s what IgE is for.

IgE antibodies indicate current exposure. When your IgE level is elevated for a specific mycotoxin, it means your body is being exposed to that toxin right now — from your home, your workplace, or another environment you spend time in.

Elevated IgE is also clinically significant because of what it can trigger. IgE antibodies to mycotoxins can cause mast cells to release histamine, heparin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These compounds cause inflammation throughout the body and can lead to what is known as mast cell activation. Many inflammatory conditions involve mast cells, including arthritis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis.

If your IgE levels are elevated, the most immediate priority is identifying and removing yourself from the source of exposure.

The real clinical value of this test comes from reading both pages of your report side by side. The combination of your IgG and IgE levels for each mycotoxin tells a more complete story than either one alone.

High IgG and high IgE together suggest active exposure with accumulated immune burden. Your body is being exposed now and has been responding for some time. This combination typically points to an ongoing environmental source.

High IgG with low or normal IgE suggests a past exposure that your immune system is still responding to, even though the active environmental source may no longer be present. This can indicate colonization in the sinuses or lungs, or simply that IgG antibodies from a significant past exposure haven’t yet cleared.

Low IgG with elevated IgE suggests a newer or more recent exposure that your immune system is just beginning to react to. The IgG response hasn’t fully built up yet, but the IgE signal confirms current contact with the toxin.

Normal IgG and normal IgE for a given mycotoxin means no significant immune response was detected for that toxin.

Share your report with your healthcare provider. Your results show which mycotoxins your immune system is reacting to, but interpreting what that means for your specific symptoms, history, and environment is best done with a clinician who can see the full picture.

A complimentary consultation with a MyMycoLab advisor is available to help you and your provider interpret the findings. To schedule, email customerservice@mymycolab.com.

If your IgE levels are elevated for any mycotoxin, the first and most important step is to apply the first rule of toxicology: remove yourself from the source of exposure, or remove the source from your environment. This may mean having your home or workplace tested for mold by a qualified indoor environmental professional.

Patients who test positive for mycotoxins should plan to retest approximately six months after starting treatment. Retesting tracks whether your antibody levels are decreasing, which helps you and your provider measure progress and adjust the treatment plan if needed.

Whether you’re reviewing results you’ve already received or considering testing for the first time, the information is here to help you make informed decisions about your health.