Alternaria tenuis
IgE antibodies to the outdoor mould Alternaria.
Why it matters
An outdoor mould whose spores peak in summer and autumn; linked with asthma.
Price is for one test. No subscription.
The Chxhealth Allergy Mould and Fungal Panel is a blood test for suspected immediate (Type I) mould allergy. It measures IgE antibodies to 7 moulds and yeasts: Alternaria, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Candida albicans, baker's yeast and brewer's yeast, plus your Total IgE.
It suits people whose nasal or chest symptoms seem worse in damp buildings, around compost or leaves, or in late summer and autumn. It has the same moulds and yeasts as the Complete Panel. It measures IgE in your blood; it does not test your home for mould or check for a fungal infection.
Your sample is a venous blood draw at our Lanchester clinic in County Durham or one of 50+ UK partner clinics, analysed by Randox Laboratories, accredited by UKAS to ISO 15189. Results take up to 5 working days. Your report shows sensitisation for a clinician to read alongside your symptoms; Chxhealth does not diagnose, treat or prescribe.
Sample requirements
Collected at either our Chxhealth clinic in Lanchester (book your appointment during checkout) or at one of our 50+ UK partnered clinics (you'll receive a separate booking email after checkout). Phlebotomy fee included in the price.
IgE antibodies to the outdoor mould Alternaria.
An outdoor mould whose spores peak in summer and autumn; linked with asthma.
IgE antibodies to the mould Aspergillus fumigatus.
Common in compost, damp buildings and soil; relevant to some people with asthma.
IgE antibodies to baker's yeast.
Yeast is used in bread and baking and can be inhaled as dust in bakeries.
IgE antibodies to brewer's yeast.
Used in beer, yeast extracts and some supplements.
IgE antibodies to the yeast Candida albicans.
Shows IgE sensitisation to Candida; it is not a test for thrush or infection.
IgE antibodies to the mould Cladosporium.
One of the most common mould spores in outdoor air in the UK.
IgE antibodies to the mould Penicillium.
A common indoor damp mould; this is not a test for penicillin allergy.
The total amount of IgE antibody in your blood.
Gives context for the allergen-specific results; raised levels are common in atopy.
Total IgE is the overall amount of IgE antibody in your blood. It is not specific to any mould, but it helps a clinician read the 7 mould and yeast results in context. A raised total IgE is common in people with asthma, eczema or other allergies, while a normal level does not rule out a mould allergy.
More about Total IgE
Alternaria is a common outdoor mould found on plants, soil and decaying vegetation. Its spores are highest in summer and early autumn, especially on warm, dry, windy days. Sensitisation to Alternaria has been linked with asthma. This marker measures IgE to Alternaria tenuis, now often called Alternaria alternata.
More about Alternaria tenuis
Aspergillus fumigatus is a mould found in soil, compost, rotting leaves and damp buildings. Most people breathe in its spores every day without problems. In some people with asthma, sensitisation can be relevant to conditions a respiratory specialist may want to look into. This marker measures IgE to Aspergillus fumigatus.
More about Aspergillus fumigatus
It can be both. Baker's yeast is eaten in bread and baked goods and can be inhaled as dust in bakeries. It is a yeast, part of the fungal family, which is why it sits on this panel. IgE allergy to yeast is uncommon. This marker measures IgE to baker's yeast.
More about Baker's yeast
Both are strains of the same yeast species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, used for different jobs. Brewer's yeast is used in beer and yeast extracts and is sold as a supplement. Because they are so closely related, results are often similar. This marker measures IgE to brewer's yeast.
More about Brewer's yeast
No. Candida albicans lives normally on the skin and in the gut and mouth of most people. This marker measures IgE sensitisation to Candida. It does not test for thrush, infection or so-called candida overgrowth. If you think you have an infection, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
More about Candida albicans
Cladosporium is one of the most common moulds in outdoor air in the UK, especially in summer. It grows on plants, soil and leaves, and indoors on damp window frames and bathroom surfaces. It can contribute to sneezing, a blocked nose and wheeze. This marker measures IgE to Cladosporium herbarum.
More about Cladosporium herbarum
No. Penicillium is a mould, the blue-green growth often seen on old bread, fruit and damp walls. This marker measures IgE to the mould itself. Penicillin antibiotic allergy is a separate drug allergy that this panel does not test. Never stop or take an antibiotic because of this result.
More about Penicillium notatum
This panel reports biomarker data. It does not diagnose any condition. Your results should be reviewed alongside the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare professional.
Choose your test, complete your details and book your appointment (either through an email sent after an order with a UK partnered clinic or on our site for our own clinic).
Visit our Chxhealth Clinic in County Durham or head to one of our 50+ partnered clinics all over the UK.
ISO accredited process through our lab partners. Your sample is analysed using independently certified methods and is double checked for accuracy.
Easy-to-read results sent from us to your inbox.
After you order, you will receive an email with a link to book your appointment. You can choose the Chxhealth clinic in Lanchester, County Durham, or one of our 50+ UK partner and pop-up clinics. View all clinic locations.
No. The phlebotomy fee is included in the price. There are no hidden costs at the appointment.
It isn’t required, but for tests that include glucose, lipids (cholesterol) or insulin, fasting is recommended for the best results. If you fast, drink water only. If you have diabetes or another medical condition, check with your GP before fasting. If you’d rather not fast, that’s fine: just let us know at your appointment.
Yes, keep taking your medication as normal. Some medicines can affect particular markers; for example, blood thinners such as aspirin or warfarin can affect clotting tests. If you are unsure, contact us before booking.
Samples are analysed by Randox Laboratories, a UK clinical laboratory accredited by UKAS to ISO 15189.
You will receive a plain-English PDF report by email. It shows each biomarker, your result, the reference range the laboratory uses and a short explanation of what each marker measures.
Yes. The PDF report is designed to be shared. You can email or print it for your GP or another healthcare professional.
No. Chxhealth is a biomarker and genetic data provider; we do not diagnose, treat or prescribe. Your report shows where your results sit against the reference range, and anything outside the typical range is flagged so you can follow it up with a healthcare professional.
Chxhealth complies with UK GDPR. Your personal data and results are stored in encrypted, UK-based systems and are never shared with third parties without your explicit consent. You can ask for your data to be exported or deleted at any time.
If you cancel before your sample has been taken, we offer a full refund. Once your sample has been taken and sent to the laboratory, a refund is not possible because the lab work has been done. See our refund policy for full terms.
It measures IgE to 7 moulds and yeasts: Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus fumigatus, baker's yeast, brewer's yeast, Candida albicans, Cladosporium herbarum and Penicillium notatum. Total IgE is also measured. Each result is reported separately, so you can see which moulds or yeasts you are sensitised to.
It is the only focused mould panel. The First-Line and Enhanced panels do not include any moulds or yeasts. The Complete Panel includes all 7 of these, plus foods, pollens, animals and dust mites. Choose this panel if mould is your main suspect, or the Complete Panel if your symptoms could have several causes.
No. Antihistamines affect skin-prick testing because they dampen the skin's reaction, but they do not interfere with an IgE blood test in the same way. That is one reason a blood test can suit people who cannot easily stop their antihistamines. Keep taking any medicine you have been prescribed unless the clinician who prescribed it tells you otherwise.
Neither is better in every case. A skin-prick test is done in clinic and read within minutes. A blood test measures IgE in a serum sample instead, so it can suit people who cannot stop antihistamines, have widespread eczema or are at higher risk of a severe reaction to testing. Both show sensitisation and both need reading alongside your symptoms.
A positive result means your immune system has made IgE antibodies to that allergen. This is called sensitisation, and it is not the same as a confirmed allergy: mould spores are everywhere, and many people with IgE to a mould have few or no symptoms. A negative result makes an IgE allergy less likely but does not completely rule one out. A clinician should interpret your results alongside your symptoms and history.
No. It measures IgE antibodies in your blood, showing whether your immune system is sensitised to these moulds and yeasts. It does not detect a fungal infection such as thrush, and it cannot tell you whether your home has a mould problem. Speak to your GP about possible infections and your landlord or a surveyor about damp.
Results take up to 5 working days. Your sample is a venous blood draw (2 serum tubes), taken at the Chxhealth clinic in Lanchester, County Durham, or at one of our 50+ UK partner clinics. There is no at-home kit for this test. Your report shows your IgE result for each allergen on the panel and your Total IgE.
Share your report with your GP or another clinician, who can read it alongside your symptoms. They may suggest further assessment or a referral to an NHS allergy clinic. Chxhealth does not diagnose, treat or prescribe. Please do not cut foods out of your diet or make big changes at home based on a result alone, without clinical advice.
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