Mold’s Mycotoxin Series – Part 4: This Is Why Your Labs Are Inconclusive (and What to Do Instead)
Over the past few newsletters, we’ve been unraveling the mystery of mold—what the World Health Organization calls “The Great Masquerader” for its ability to mimic countless illnesses, making it notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat.
Today, we’re getting more precise: What do mycotoxins activate, and how can you test for them accurately?
Not All Mold Is the Issue—It’s the Mycotoxins.
Of the million-plus species of mold, only a dozen or so produce mycotoxins—the true microscopic troublemakers. These toxic compounds are not the mold itself but secondary metabolites attached to mold spores.
And before you get influenced instead of educated:
The most concerning mycotoxins affecting human health are inhaled, not ingested.
While consuming mold-contaminated food in massive doses (over a milligram per kilogram of body weight) can cause severe illness, this is rare and not the primary issue behind chronic inflammation and disease I’m discussing here.
How Mycotoxins Trigger Inflammation
When inhaled, mycotoxins can infiltrate deep into your sinuses and lungs, where they enter your bloodstream. Once there, they trigger mast cells, which release a surge of pro-inflammatory cytokines—your body's alarm system.
As Dr. Andrew Campbell puts it:
“It’s like they are firing off an urgent email blast. The result? Chronic inflammation that doesn’t shut off.”
And as you know, chronic inflammation is a root driver of most diseases.
Mycotoxins Can Also Reactivate Latent Viruses
Once in your system, mycotoxins can reactivate dormant viruses, further amplifying immune dysfunction. These may include:
EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus, linked with mononucleosis)
CMV (Cytomegalovirus)
HHV-6 (Human Herpesvirus 6)
Due to immune cross-reactivity, this reactivation can even lead to false positives in Lyme disease testing. Many patients are treated for Lyme when the real culprit is mycotoxin exposure. (Side Note: For highly accurate Lyme testing, I recommend ImmunoSciences Laboratory in Los Angeles—considered the gold standard for Lyme testing in the U.S.)
How to Test for Mycotoxins (and Avoid Common Mistakes)
If you suspect mold may be a S.T.A.M.P. trigger (Stressors, Toxins, Allergens, Microbes, Poor Diet) driving chronic inflammation, proper testing is essential:
✅ Test the mycotoxins—not mold itself.
✅ Use blood testing, not urine testing.
Why?
Urine tests largely reflect ingested mold (from food), which is rarely linked to chronic inflammatory illness. Inhaled mycotoxins—the true disruptors—are best detected in the blood, just like we test viruses.
BioFIT Medicine Now Offers Advanced Mycotoxin Testing
For my patients, BioFIT Medicine now partners with a premier laboratory specializing in accurate mycotoxin blood testing to determine if mold is actively triggering an immune response in your body.
Next Newsletter: The Final Chapter
In the final part of this Mold Series, I’ll cover often-overlooked conditions where mold exposure may play a hidden role in chronic disease—and why the goal isn’t just to manage illness but to reverse and heal.
Grateful.
Kevin Hoffarth, MD, IFMCP
Owner, BioFIT Medicine
Author: Functional Medicine: The New Standard
Enjoying these newsletters?
Please honor me by sharing this with someone you care about.