Educational Guide to your MoldCo Complete Panel Results
16 biomarkers
What this lab helps you understand
The Complete Panel is MoldCo’s most in-depth lab test. It looks at 16 key blood markers to help you understand how—and if—mold exposure may be impacting your body.
These markers are closely linked to patterns often associated with Mold Toxicity, which may result in:
Increased inflammation from an overactive immune system
Lower levels of hormones that help keep your body in balance
Disruptions in how your cells and metabolism normally function
This test gives you the most complete picture on how mold may be affecting your body, and why you may be experiencing certain symptoms.
Understanding your results
We created a guide crafted on research and over 30 years of clinical experience to help you understand what your body is trying to tell you. If you’re noticing measurements that are not within range, it could be due to Mold Toxicity. Levels typically are worse for those who have a higher severity of exposure and are not actively being treated.
The number of out-of-range lab markers can give you a clue as to whether Mold Toxicity may be affecting your health. While a single abnormal test might not tell the full story, a pattern of multiple abnormal results helps give us a more complete picture. If you’re feeling off, we always recommend competing MoldCo’s intake form and symptom analysis.
NOTE: If experiencing any symptoms, we recommend completing our intake questionnaire to help determine if they may be related to Mold Toxicity
TOTAL BIOMARKERS OUT OF REFERENCE RANGE & RISK OF MOLD/BIOTOXIN TOXICITY
0 Low Risk
1 Medium Risk
2-3 High Risk
4+ Very High Risk
TGF-β1
Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (TGF-β1) is a central regulator of cell growth, immune function, and tissue repair that rises in response to inflammation. High levels are often seen in Mold Toxicity and may reflect the body’s attempt to control and balance ongoing immune stress.
0-2,380 pg/mL
>2,380 pg/mL
High levels can impair the normal immune and tissue processes, which can contribute to symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and breathing issues.
MMP-9
Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an enzyme that helps the body respond to damage by opening up pathways for repair. In Mold Toxicity, MMP-9 elevates, which can then lead to more inflammation and tissue damage, especially in the brain and other organ systems.
<333 ng/mL
Greater than 332 ng/mL
High levels may signal that your body is under persistent stress from mold toxins, potentially contributing to fatigue, breathing difficulties, brain fog, and mood swings.
MSH
Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (MSH) is a brain hormone that regulates key functions such as sleep, hunger, and stress response. With mold exposure, MSH levels often change due to chronic stress on the immune system, triggering hormonal dysregulation throughout the body.
Less than 12 pg/mL
Less than 35 pg/mL
35-81 pg/mL
Low MSH can cause brain fog, fatigue, reduced sleep quality, poor mood, chronic pain, inflammation, increased thirst, and temperature sensitivity. MSH is typically one of the last biomarkers to see improvement during treatment.
DHEA-Sulfate
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S) is one of the most plentiful hormones in the human body. It's a crucial building block for making testosterone and estrogen, but it also plays a major role in balancing your immune system, metabolism, brain function, cardiovascular health, and reproductive health. With Mold Toxicity, DHEA-S levels may drop significantly.
NOTE: DHEA-S reference ranges are based on your age and gender. Refer to the summary table for DHEA-S that is provided with your lab results from Lapcorp.
When DHEA-S is low, your internal balance gets thrown off, and inflammation can spiral out of control. This can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, mood issues, increased inflammation, and difficulty recovering from illness.
ACTH & Cortisol
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) and cortisol are two key hormones involved in how your body handles stress. ACTH is made by the brain and tells the adrenal glands to release cortisol, which helps control inflammation, energy, and your sleep-wake cycle. In Mold Toxicity, this system can become dysregulated, showing low ACTH even when cortisol is low, which is not how the system should normally work.
NOTE: ACTH should be compared in relation to cortisol. As cortisol increases, ACTH should decrease. As cortisol decreases, ACTH should increase. Cortisol levels change naturally throughout the day, so with Mold Toxicity, we’re looking at how ACTH responds in relation to raised or lowered cortisol.
If cortisol is less than or equal to 8.0 ug/dL, ACTH ranges are:
Dysregulated
In Range
0-39
40+
If cortisol is greater than or equal to 15.0 ug/dL, ACTH ra
In Range
Dysregulated
0-15
16+
This kind of imbalance can cause symptoms like exhaustion, low stress tolerance, poor sleep, brain fog, and mood swings. It may be a sign that your brain and adrenal glands aren't communicating well, and is often a pattern that’s commonly seen with Mold Toxicity.
C4a
C4a (Complement protein C4a) is a component of your innate immune system that helps tag pathogens (like mold) for destruction. With Mold Toxicity, C4a levels can stay elevated because the immune system stays on edge, acting like there's still something to fight off, even when the original concern may be gone.
NOTE: C4a changes rapidly, a single lab result can be great directional data. Repeat labs are recommended to have a better understanding of your baseline levels.
Less than 651 ng/mL
Greater than 650 ng/mL
Elevated C4a can lead to increased inflammation, particularly affecting the brain and blood vessels, and may contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and body aches.
ADH & Osmolality
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) and osmolality work together to maintain fluid balance in the body. ADH tells the kidneys when to conserve or release water, while osmolality reflects how concentrated the blood is. In a healthy system, these two respond in sync to keep hydration levels stable. But in Mold Toxicity, this regulation often breaks down, leading to mismatches between changes in ADH levels and osmolality.
NOTE: ADH should be compared in relation to osmolality. As osmolality increases, ADH should increase. As osmolality decreases, ADH should decrease. With Mold Toxicity, we’re looking at how ADH responds in relation to raised or lowered osmolality.
If osmolality is >=292, ADH should be >=4.0 - if not, the system is dysregulated
Dysregulated
In Range
< 4.0
>=4.0
If osmolality is <=278, ADH should be <=2.3 - if not, the system is dysregulated
In Range
Dysregulated
<=2.3
>2.3
When this balance is disrupted, the body may either lose too much water (causing dehydration, thirst, frequent urination) or retain too much (causing swelling, low sodium, or blood pressure fluctuations). These fluid shifts contribute to common mold-related symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, and poor temperature regulation.
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that supports bone health, immune function, and inflammation regulation. Low Vitamin D levels may reduce your body's ability to regulate inflammatory responses, making recovery more difficult.
Less than 30 ng/mL
>29 ng/mL
Low Vitamin D can be common in chronic inflammatory conditions, including Mold Toxicity, and may worsen fatigue, joint pain, poor sleep, and cognitive symptoms. It’s often helpful to monitor levels and supplements as needed under medical guidance.
VEGF
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a protein that plays a critical role in creating and maintaining blood vessels, ensuring oxygen and nutrients can be delivered throughout the body. In Mold Toxicity, VEGF levels often become dysregulated due to chronic inflammation, disrupting circulation and starving tissues of oxygen, particularly in the brain, muscles, and extremities.
NOTE: It’s recommended to monitor VEGF with multiple tests to understand your baseline because, based on the timing of your lab test, you may be catching a ‘spike’ or a ‘crash’. With prolonged exposure to mold, baseline levels have been shown to decrease.
Less than 31 pg/mL
31-86 pg/mL
Greater than 86 pg/mL
When VEGF is too low, tissues receive less oxygen and nutrients, leading to symptoms like muscle cramps, post-exertional fatigue and can affect everything from energy production to cognitive clarity.
Leptin
Leptin is a hormone made by fat tissue and acts as the body’s energy gauge. It tells the brain how much fuel is stored, helping regulate hunger, metabolism, and energy use. Mold exposure can trigger leptin resistance, where your cells stop responding to leptin's signals effectively, potentially causing weight changes and fatigue.
NOTE: Leptin reference ranges are based on your BMI and sex. Refer to your Labcorp summary table for Leptin that is provided with your lab results from Lapcorp.
When leptin resistance occurs, the brain thinks the body is low on energy, even when fat stores are full, causing even higher leptin levels. This can lead to increased hunger, weight gain, slower metabolism, and fatigue. High leptin levels also promote inflammation, contributing to symptoms like brain fog and low energy often seen in Mold Toxicity.
Antigliadin Antibodies
Antigliadin antibodies (IgA & IgG) are immune proteins created in response to gliadin, a component of gluten found in wheat and related grains. These antibodies help mark and target what your immune system perceives as a concern. In Mold Toxicity, chronic immune activation and low MSH can lead to increased production of both IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies.
NOTE: Maintaining a gluten-free diet may affect these results and reference ranges.
IgG
Less than 20 Units
Greater than 19 Units
IgA
Less than 20 Units
Greater than 19 Units
When the gut barrier becomes compromised, fragments can enter the bloodstream and trigger a reaction. This may lead to symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, brain fog, joint pain, or fatigue. These symptoms often mimic gluten sensitivity, making antigliadin antibody testing to be helpful when evaluating overlapping concerns.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral involved in over 300 biological processes, including immune defense, wound healing, and DNA production. It helps regulate immune cell function and supports tissue repair. Low zinc levels might cause your immune system to struggle causing recovery to be more difficult.
Less than 44 µg/dL
44-115 µg/dL
When zinc is low, it can result in slower healing, increased inflammation, fatigue, and cognitive issues, which can worsen symptoms related to mold exposure.
Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein that acts like a warehouse for iron in the body, releasing it when needed. It helps maintain healthy iron levels to support energy production, oxygen transport, and immune function. In Mold Toxicity, ferritin levels can be either low or elevated, depending on the body's inflammatory response.
Adult Females
<15 ng/mL
15-150 ng/mL
>150 ng/mL
Adult Males
<30 ng/mL
30-400 ng/mL
>400 ng/mL
Low ferritin may reflect iron deficiency, which can cause fatigue, weakness, or anemia. Elevated ferritin can be a response to chronic inflammation rather than excess iron, a protective mechanism the body uses to limit iron availability to potential pathogens by keeping it ‘stored’ in the excess ferritin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How are reference ranges calculated for each biomarker?
How are reference ranges calculated for each biomarker?
How are reference ranges calculated for each biomarker?
How are reference ranges calculated for each biomarker?
How are reference ranges calculated for each biomarker?
The different laboratory testing companies (e.g., Labcorp, Quest) that perform each biomarker assay (biochemical test known as a lab derived test or LDT) have unique methodologies for determining the value of each biomarker from your blood sample. For a given biomarker, the laboratory testing company determines the average value for that biomarker in the general population – the population mean. Values that fall within 2 standard deviations of the population mean are considered to be “normal” or “in range”, and as such may change over time as more data is collected from the general population by that lab company, potentially shifting the mean. These values in isolation do not indicate the presence of any particular disease or medical condition. The “normal range” or “reference range” may differ between laboratory companies based on internal population data. Labcorp includes their reference ranges for each biomarker in the report you receive. While similar, these do not reflect the range of values that are used by clinicians in the assessment of Mold Toxicity, which have remained mostly unchanged over the past 30 years, except for changes in interpretation to reflect relevant alterations in test methodology. The reference ranges used by Mold Toxicity clinicians are based on observations of the levels of each biomarker associated with Mold Toxicity from patient clinical records.
When will I expect results?
When will I expect results?
When will I expect results?
When will I expect results?
When will I expect results?
What’s included with my results?
What’s included with my results?
What’s included with my results?
What’s included with my results?
What’s included with my results?
When should I order another lab panel?
When should I order another lab panel?
When should I order another lab panel?
When should I order another lab panel?
When should I order another lab panel?
What should I do if some of my measurements are out of range?
What should I do if some of my measurements are out of range?
What should I do if some of my measurements are out of range?
What should I do if some of my measurements are out of range?
What should I do if some of my measurements are out of range?
Can a mold blood test diagnose Mold Toxicity?
Can a mold blood test diagnose Mold Toxicity?
Can a mold blood test diagnose Mold Toxicity?
Can a mold blood test diagnose Mold Toxicity?
Can a mold blood test diagnose Mold Toxicity?
What is the difference between this blood panel test and environmental mold tests?
What is the difference between this blood panel test and environmental mold tests?
What is the difference between this blood panel test and environmental mold tests?
What is the difference between this blood panel test and environmental mold tests?
What is the difference between this blood panel test and environmental mold tests?
What do the results mean, and will they indicate if I have been exposed to toxic mold?
What do the results mean, and will they indicate if I have been exposed to toxic mold?
What do the results mean, and will they indicate if I have been exposed to toxic mold?
What do the results mean, and will they indicate if I have been exposed to toxic mold?
What do the results mean, and will they indicate if I have been exposed to toxic mold?
Can the mold blood test determine how long I have been exposed to mold?
Can the mold blood test determine how long I have been exposed to mold?
Can the mold blood test determine how long I have been exposed to mold?
Can the mold blood test determine how long I have been exposed to mold?
Can the mold blood test determine how long I have been exposed to mold?
How is my personal data handled, and is the test HIPAA compliant?
How is my personal data handled, and is the test HIPAA compliant?
How is my personal data handled, and is the test HIPAA compliant?
How is my personal data handled, and is the test HIPAA compliant?
How is my personal data handled, and is the test HIPAA compliant?
What are the limitations of this test?
What are the limitations of this test?
What are the limitations of this test?
What are the limitations of this test?
What are the limitations of this test?
Can’t I use a urinary test for mold instead of blood?
Can’t I use a urinary test for mold instead of blood?
Can’t I use a urinary test for mold instead of blood?
Can’t I use a urinary test for mold instead of blood?
Can’t I use a urinary test for mold instead of blood?
Can mold affect me if I haven’t been exposed for long?
Can mold affect me if I haven’t been exposed for long?
Can mold affect me if I haven’t been exposed for long?
Can mold affect me if I haven’t been exposed for long?
Can mold affect me if I haven’t been exposed for long?
How reliable are the test results?
How reliable are the test results?
How reliable are the test results?
How reliable are the test results?
How reliable are the test results?
Will my healthcare provider receive a copy of my results?
Will my healthcare provider receive a copy of my results?
Will my healthcare provider receive a copy of my results?
Will my healthcare provider receive a copy of my results?
Will my healthcare provider receive a copy of my results?
The results of this lab panel are for information purposes only and do not include clinician oversight, and should not be used to make a diagnosis, recommend treatment options or health claim without consulting your licensed healthcare providers. The information and guidance provided herein is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any health-related claims made on or in this package, or on MoldCo’s website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). MoldCo assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the references nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The biological analytes and clinical symptoms discussed on this page are not specific to any disease or other medical entity, including Mold Toxicity. The purpose of this panel is to obtain measurements of blood biomarkers associated with Mold Toxicity or CIRS, as described in the medical and scientific literature, and which reflect clinical practice by certain mold-certified clinicians. You should discuss any lab results with your licensed health care practitioner or primary care physician. Any educational and informational information provided with lab results is focused solely on Mold Toxicity and does not include education on abnormal results for other medical conditions. MoldCo is a healthcare technology company and not a laboratory or medical provider. All laboratory and medical services are provided by independent third parties. These laboratory and medical service providers set their own pricing. Although MoldCo may facilitate easy access to certain laboratory and medical service providers on your behalf, MoldCo does not recommend or refer you to any healthcare providers, and you are free to choose any healthcare provider and to continue to use MoldCo’s services. MoldCo does not offer medical advice, laboratory services, a diagnosis, or any form of medical opinion, through our services or otherwise. MoldCo’s pricing includes technology and service fees charged by MoldCo, as well as access to limited prepaid laboratory and other services provided by third parties, and paid to such third parties on your behalf. Itemization of all fees is available upon request. For other important information regarding the services provided by MoldCo, please see the terms of service. Please refer to our Legal section for further details, disclaimers, and MoldCo’s Terms and Services.
References:
Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2006). Sick building syndrome (SBS) and exposure to water-damaged buildings: Time series study, clinical trial and mechanisms. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 28(5), 573–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2006.07.003
Shoemaker, R. C., House, D., & Ryan, J. C. (2013). Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) corrects chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) acquired following exposure to water-damaged buildings. Health, 05(03), 396–401. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2013.53053
Straub, R. H., Lehle, K., Herfarth, H., Weber, M., Falk, W., Preuner, J., & Scholmerich, J. (2002). Dehydroepiandrosterone in relation to other adrenal hormones during an acute inflammatory stressful disease state compared with chronic inflammatory disease: Role of interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor. European Journal of Endocrinology, 146(3), 365–374. https://doi.org/10.1530/eje.0.1460365
Aranow, C. (2011). Vitamin D and the Immune System. Journal of Investigative Medicine : The Official Publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research, 59(6), 881–886. https://doi.org/10.231/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
Forbes, S., Bui, S., Robinson, B. R., Hochgeschwender, U., & Brennan, M. B. (2001). Integrated control of appetite and fat metabolism by the leptin-proopiomelanocortin pathway. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(7), 4233–4237. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.071054298
Hsieh, Y.-W., Tsai, Y.-W., Lai, H.-H., Lai, C.-Y., Lin, C.-Y., & Her, G. M. (2021). Depletion of Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Induces Insatiable Appetite and Gains in Energy Reserves and Body Weight in Zebrafish. Biomedicines, 9(8), 941. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9080941
Lee, H. S., & Kim, W. J. (2022). The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase in Inflammation with a Focus on Infectious Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(18), 10546. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810546
Travis, M. A., & Sheppard, D. (2014). TGF-β Activation and Function in Immunity. Annual Review of Immunology, 32, 51–82.
