A urine mycotoxin test measures toxins made by moulds, such as ochratoxin A and aflatoxins, that the body is clearing. A detectable level shows recent exposure, which can come from food as well as a damp building. There are no validated reference ranges linking urine levels to illness, and mould illness and CIRS remain contested diagnoses. Check the home for damp, and refer respiratory symptoms to a GP. Verified practitioners can order Nutripath’s mould tests through Vively.
| Test type | Measured in urine, blood or a nasal swab, depending on the test |
|---|---|
| Nutripath code | 3413, 3419, 3402, 3404 |
| Sample and collection | Urine or nasal swab collected at home and posted to Nutripath. The biotoxin panel is a blood draw at a partner collection centre using the Nutripath kit. |
| Preparation | No fasting for the urine panels. Follow the kit instructions for the time of collection. Stop nasal sprays only if the prescriber agrees. |
| Turnaround | 12 to 15 business days for the urine panels, 5 to 7 business days for the MARCoNS swab and up to 30 business days for the biotoxin blood panel (Nutripath estimates, from when the lab receives the sample). Allow extra days for postage. |
| Available through | Nutripath test ordered through Vively. You need to be a verified practitioner to refer it. |
| Pricing | Pricing in your practitioner account |
| Results | PDF report from Nutripath, filed in your client’s record and app beside their blood results |
Only practitioners can order this test. Ask your naturopath, nutritionist or dietitian whether they use Vively.
What do the Nutripath mould and mycotoxin tests measure?
Moulds make toxins called mycotoxins. Nutripath’s urine panels look for these toxins by mass spectrometry. Two related tests look at the client instead: a blood panel of inflammatory markers and a nasal swab for staph bacteria.
Reports whether aflatoxins, gliotoxin, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes and zearalenone are present or not in a urine sample.
Measures 31 mycotoxin markers in 7 classes, corrected for urine concentration with creatinine, so you see a level for each rather than present or absent.
Measures C3a, C4a, MMP9, TGF beta 1 and VEGF in blood. These are markers of inflammation and immune activity. They are not specific to mould and can be raised by many other conditions.
Cultures a deep nasal swab for multiple antibiotic resistant coagulase negative staphylococci. These bacteria are common in healthy people, and the link to mould illness comes from one clinical model, not from trials.
| Nutripath test | Code | Sample | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mycotoxin Exposure | 3413 | Urine | 12 to 15 business days |
| Mycotoxins Extensive | 3419 | Spot urine | 12 to 15 business days |
| Mould and Biotoxins, Comprehensive | 3402 | Blood | Up to 30 business days |
| Nasopharyngeal Bacterial Culture (MARCoNS) | 3404 | Nasal swab | 5 to 7 business days |
How do you order mycotoxin and mould testing through Vively?
- Get verified. You need to be a verified practitioner to refer tests. Practitioners with a recognised qualification or membership (ATMS, NHAA, ANTA, Dietitians Australia, NSA, CMA or Ahpra registration) can request free practitioner access.
- Build the order. Log in to the practitioner platform, choose the Nutripath test and add any blood tests or the $99 Baseline Health Check to the same order. Pricing shows in your account, and either your client or your practice can pay.
- Client collects at home. Nutripath sends your client the collection kit once the order is placed. Your client follows the kit instructions (a urine sample for the mycotoxin panels or a nasal swab for MARCoNS; the biotoxin panel needs a blood draw at a partner collection centre) and posts the sample back to Nutripath in the packaging provided.
- Review the report. Nutripath’s PDF report is filed in your client’s record and app, next to their blood results, ready for the follow-up consult.
See every Nutripath test you can order on the Nutripath tests page.
Order mycotoxin and mould testing with your client’s blood tests
Free access for verified naturopaths, nutritionists and dietitians. Order Nutripath tests and blood pathology in one place, and see every result in your client’s record.
What does a mycotoxin test tell you, and what does it not?
These tests can show that a client has been exposed to mycotoxins. They cannot show that the exposure is making them unwell. Be clear about that before ordering.
Mycotoxins such as ochratoxin A and aflatoxins turn up in grains, coffee, nuts, dried fruit and wine. Detectable levels are common in people with no mould at home, so a positive urine result doesn’t tell you where the exposure came from.
There are no validated reference ranges that link urine mycotoxin levels to illness. Lab cut-offs reflect what is detectable, not what is harmful.
Chronic inflammatory response syndrome is not an accepted diagnosis in mainstream medicine. A 2018 Australian parliamentary inquiry heard evidence that damp buildings may contribute to ill health in some people, but noted there are no clinical guidelines for diagnosing CIRS. It recommended NHMRC research into CIRS-like illness and guidelines for GPs (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport, 2018).
Living or working in a damp, mouldy building is linked with worse asthma, wheeze and respiratory infections (WHO, 2009). The proven fix is finding and fixing the damp.
How does mould testing fit with blood work?
Clients who suspect mould often have fatigue, brain fog and aches, which have many common causes. Rule those out with standard blood tests first.
- ReferWheeze, cough or breathlessness with a damp home
Respiratory symptoms go to the GP whatever the test shows. Asthma and allergic lung disease need medical care.
- ContextFatigue and brain fog with low ferritin, B12 or thyroid changes
These are common, treatable causes of the same symptoms. Address them before attributing symptoms to mould.
- ContextPositive urine mycotoxins with no damp at home
Diet is the likely source. Review grains, coffee, nuts and dried fruit before looking for hidden mould.
- ContextRaised hs-CRP with raised biotoxin markers
Points to inflammation but not to its cause. Refer to the GP to look for common inflammatory conditions.
What can affect a mycotoxin result?
- Recent meals containing grains, coffee, nuts, dried fruit, spices or wine
- Urine concentration, which is why the extensive panel corrects for creatinine
- Time since exposure, as many mycotoxins clear within days
- Infection, autoimmune disease or recent surgery, which can raise the blood markers
- Recent antibiotics or nasal sprays, for the MARCoNS swab
When should you refer the client to their GP?
- Wheeze, cough, breathlessness or asthma that is getting worse
- Recurrent sinus infections or nasal polyps
- Fever, unexplained weight loss or night sweats
- A weakened immune system, which raises the risk of fungal infection
- Fatigue or cognitive symptoms without a clear cause after standard blood tests
How should a client prepare for a mycotoxin test?
Copy or print this to send to your client. Follow the instructions in the Nutripath kit if they differ.
Preparing for your mould or mycotoxin test
- You don’t need to fast for the urine panels. Collect the urine sample at the time the kit instructions give.
- Note what you ate in the 2 days before, including grains, coffee, nuts, dried fruit and wine, so your practitioner can read the result.
- For the MARCoNS swab, follow the kit instructions for the deep nasal swab. Ask your doctor before stopping any nasal spray.
- For the biotoxin blood panel, take the Nutripath kit to a partner pathology collection centre early in the week (Monday to Wednesday), then post the sample back the same day.
- Post urine and swab kits back the same day, early in the week so they aren’t in the post over the weekend.
- If you have wheeze, cough or breathing trouble, see your GP. Don’t wait for these results.
What does the mycotoxin report look like?
Nutripath publishes sample reports on its website. They open in a new tab.
How do practitioners use mould and mycotoxin testing with clients?
Start with the building and the basics. Ask about water damage, visible mould and musty smells, and whether symptoms ease away from home. Rule out iron deficiency, thyroid disease and sleep problems with standard tests. If you still order a mycotoxin panel, tell the client beforehand that a positive result shows exposure, not illness, and may come from food. The most useful action is usually a building inspection and fixing the damp, not a protocol based on the urine numbers.
Mycotoxin and mould testing FAQs
Can a naturopath, nutritionist or dietitian order a mycotoxin test through Vively?
Yes. You need to be a verified practitioner to refer it. Add a Nutripath mycotoxin, biotoxin or MARCoNS test to an order in the Vively practitioner platform, on its own or with blood tests. Pricing shows in your account. No account yet? Request free access.
Does a positive urine mycotoxin test mean my client has mould illness?
No. It shows recent exposure to mycotoxins, which is common and often comes from food. There are no validated ranges linking urine levels to illness.
Is there a test for CIRS?
There is no validated diagnostic test. CIRS is not an accepted diagnosis in mainstream medicine. The biotoxin blood panel measures inflammatory markers that many other conditions can also raise.
What should a client do if they think their home has mould?
Find and fix the source of damp, often a leak, poor ventilation or condensation. A building inspector or mould assessor can help. NSW Health and other state health departments publish guidance on cleaning mould safely.
How long do mycotoxin results take?
Nutripath estimates 12 to 15 business days for the urine panels, 5 to 7 for the MARCoNS swab and up to 30 for the biotoxin blood panel, from when the lab receives the sample. Allow a few extra days for postage.
References
- World Health Organization. WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe. 2009.
- House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport. Report on the inquiry into biotoxin-related illnesses in Australia. Canberra: Parliament of Australia. October 2018.
- World Health Organization. Mycotoxins (fact sheet). who.int. 2 October 2023.
- Nutripath. Mycotoxin panel (3413), Mycotoxins Extensive (3419), Mould Biotoxins Comprehensive (3402) and MARCoNS (3404). nutripath.com.au, checked 20 October 2026.