Mold Allergy Panel

This panel measures the levels of IgE antibodies in your blood made by your immune system in response to certain mold allergens:

Alternaria alternata
The most prevalent mold in dry, warm climates, Alternaria alternata has air spores that peak in the afternoon and typically disseminate in warm, dry air. It is often found in soil and on plants, cereal grains, grass, corn silage, rotten wood, bricks, canvas, iron, compost, and bird nests.¹

Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillus fumigatus can grow both indoors and outside. Outdoors, it prefers environments such as soil, decomposing leaves, bird droppings, compost, wood chips, hay, stored grains and sweet potatoes, and hay and other crops. It can grow on indoor surfaces such as ventilation ducts, floors, walls, potted plants, and household dust, and it's often found on foods rich in starch, such as rice, cereal, and bread.²

Candida albicans
Capable of causing fungal infections in humans, Candida is often referred to as a yeast, but it's actually a special kind of fungus (aka mold) and is sometimes called a pseudo yeast. Candida can live in soil and organic debris, but Candida albicans commonly lives on the skin and in the mouth, intestinal tract, vagina, and other moist, warm, and dark areas of the body. Plus, yeast is found in many foods.³

Cladosporium herbarum
Cladosporium herbarum is dominant in temperate climates and can grow both indoors and outside. Outdoors, it is found mainly on plants, in soil, and on food. Indoors, it can often be found in bathrooms, basements, and on surfaces such as window panes, insulation in heating and cooling systems, fabrics, wood, wallpaper, carpets, rugs, windowsills, grills, upholstered furniture, faucets, and curtains.⁴

Mucor racemosus
Mucor racemosus is often found in soil, plant debris, and dung. However, the mold also grows in indoor environments like homes, schools, and offices in house dust, mattresses, carpet, and ventilation ducts.⁵

IgE antibodies are normally found in small amounts in the blood, but larger amounts can be a sign that the body overreacts to allergens. This overreaction can cause your body to produce histamine and trigger an allergic reaction.

Allergies may be the cause of the following signs and symptoms, but you should discuss with your doctor to confirm. If you have any of the following, this test may be right for you:

• Sneezing
• Irritated eyes (swelling, redness, watering, scratchiness, itching, or puffiness)
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Itchy nose, ears, or mouth
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Increased asthma symptoms (coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing)
• Rash, welts, hives, or eczema
• Nasal congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath or slight trouble breathing

This test may not be right for you if you or the person you are purchasing this test for is experiencing the following more severe symptoms. SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION during your reaction. Seeing a specialist is recommend for more appropriate evaluation:  

• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath/constriction and tightening of the airways
• A swollen throat or the sensation of a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe/swallow
• A severe drop in blood pressure
• Rapid pulse
• Feeling faint, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• Loss of consciousness
• Anaphylaxis (a potentially life-threatening reaction that can cause itching, hives, and skin rash; swelling of the throat, lips or tongue; and difficulty breathing, potentially causing the body to go into shock)

Most allergic reactions occur within minutes, but some may develop hours after exposure. The reaction to an allergen can vary from a stuffy nose to anaphylaxis. Anaphylactic shock occurs when a person's blood pressure drops so severely that the body's cells and tissues do not receive enough oxygen. Due to the severity of a possible allergic reaction, it's crucial to work with your healthcare provider to determine an optimal treatment and prevention plan.

Purchaser: You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com.

Patient: This test can be performed on patients between 10 and 100 years old. If this test will be performed on someone less than 18 years old:

• The appropriate age bracket needs to be selected during purchase
• Both parent/guardian (hereinafter "parent") and patient information will need to be provided during test registration
• Both parent and patient must be present for sample collection, the parent will need to have their identification available at collection
• Results will be provided to the listed parent

Sample collection: This test requires sample collection at a Quest Diagnostics location or through Quest Mobile^TM where available, a convenient option for in-home sample collection*. Collection is not available in AK, AZ, or HI.

*Check your zip code here for service availability, testing may not be available in all locations. Quest Mobile is currently only available for individuals ages 18+.

Please note: Laboratory testing for children under 18 years of age should always be conducted with the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider. Our tests are designed to support continuity of care, ease of access, and empower families with accessible health information. They are not a substitute for medical evaluation or ongoing care from a pediatrician. Parents should review test results with their child's healthcare provider to ensure appropriate interpretation, follow-up, and treatment in the context of the rest of your child's care. If your child is experiencing symptoms or you have concerns about their health, please contact your pediatrician or seek other medical care immediately.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes a few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If you have or create a MyQuest® account, you may be able to review your new results there with your other Quest results. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent healthcare providers are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

If this test is performed on someone less than 18 years old, the results will be provided to the registered parent.