New from Realtime Laboratories (RTL)... an Exciting Addition to RTL’S Mycotoxin Test Panel
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October 2015 New From RealTime Laboratories (RTL)... An exciting addition to RTL’s Mycotoxin Test Panel Introducing our new GLIOTOXIN CLINICAL TEST RealTime Labs Receives The Gliotoxin Test is a fast, accurate and sensitive method for the detection of a metabolic Accreditation from derivative of Gliotoxin in a clinical sample. The presence of this metabolic derivative of College of Gliotoxin in urine samples is indicative of an infection or exposure to Asperigillus fumigatus, American Pathologists Trichoderma, or Penicillium spp. This is of particular importance in immunocompromised The Accreditation Committee hosts (e.g. transplant, HIV and cancer patients), since Aspergillus fumigatus is a major of the College of American cause of Invasive Aspergillosis (IA), which has a high mortality rate, estimated to be 30%- Pathologists (CAP) has again 80%. It has also been shown that Gliotoxin suppresses the human immune response via awarded accreditation to apoptosis of monocytes(1). RealTime Laboratories, Inc., Carrollton, Texas, based on Ordering Information: This adds to RTL’s comprehensive results of a recent on-site E8510 Gliotoxin Test: $250.00 Mycotoxin Test Panel which includes inspection as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs. RTL tests for the following 14 Mycotoxins: E8510 Gliotoxin Test as an add on to the has been accredited by CAP E8500 Total Mycotoxin Panel: $99.00 A. Ochratoxin A since August 2011. It also (Total Panel $798.00) holds licenses, certifications, B. Aflatoxin Group (B1, B2, G1, G2) E8510F Gliotoxin Test as a standalone and accreditation from CLIA. Follow-Up: $99.00 C. Tricothecene Group (Satratoxin RealTime Laboratories, Inc., (RTL) is the only laboratory E8510 Gliotoxin Test as an add on to G, Satratoxin H, Isosatratoxin F, in the U.S. that performs the Total Mycotoxin Panel Follow-Up: Roridin A, E. H, L-2, Verrucarin validated mycotoxin testing $69.00 (Total follow-up panel: $319.00) A, and Verrucarin J ) for diagnostic assistance in patients exposed to All Mycotoxin testing results are submitted in easy to understand numeric format, showing mold/fungus. “RealTime the detection levels in ppb, as standardized by the FDA, WHO, CDC and Food Industry Laboratories is pleased to for clinical use, the results of the test (Positive, Negative or Equivocal), and the ranges of be among a select group detection for each. of specialized diagnostic laboratories to have received full accreditation from the college of American Pathologists,” said David Murcott, CEO of RTL. Murcott went on to say, “CAP accreditation represents the highest benchmark in the industry, ensuring reliable, reproducible test results that meet the most stringent quality assurance standards.” 1. Stanzani, M., et. al. “Aspergillus fumigatus Suppresses the Human Cellular Immune Response Via Gliotoxin-Mediated Apoptosis of Monocytes”. Blood. 15 March 2005. Volume 105. Number 6. The importance of “Follow-Up” Testing in Monitoring Patient Progress. You have a patient that is exhibiting unexplained symptoms that could be related to exposure to mold and the toxic mycotoxins produced by the mold. You have tested them with the RealTime Mycotoxin Panel and they are positive for one or more of the mycotoxin groups in the tests (Aflatoxins, Ochratoxins, Tricothecenes or Gliotoxins). The first thing to do is to get them out of the environment that is exposing them to the toxin producing fungi. They are then likely to be subjected to some treatment regimen to clear the mycotoxins from the body. A number of different treatment modalities have been suggested including: Administering Glutathione, Sequestering Agents e.g. Cholestyramine, Sauna, Probiotics, Anti-Oxidants and Nutritional Agents (Vitamin D, Mg, Zn, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B)(1). In order to measure the success of the treatment, it is important to regularly monitor the mycotoxin levels in the urine, which can actually increase over time as the toxin is cleared, before the levels reach a negative range. A follow-up study of chronically ill patients being treated for mold/mycotoxin was published by Brewer et al(2) who showed that urine mycotoxin levels decreased substantially in patients that improved during the intranasal antifungal therapy. In order to facilitate and encourage this critical follow up care, RealTime Labs offers the following: A. Significantly reduced prices for follow-up tests. B. Results will be plotted on a graph to show levels over time. This valuable data will more easily assist in monitoring the efficacy of treatment protocols, as it presents a straightforward, visual display of the patient’s toxin levels throughout the course of treatment. An example is shown below. 1. Hope, J. “A Review of the Mechanism of Injury and Treatment Approaches for Illness Resulting from Expo-sure to Water-Damaged Buildings, Mold and Mycotoxins”. The Scientific World Journal. Volume 2013. 2. Brewer, J., Hooper, D., Muralidhar, S. “Intranasal Antifungal Therapy in Patients Illness Associated with Mold and Mycotoxins: An Observational Analysis. Global Journal of Medical Research with Chronic: K Inter-disciplinary. Volume 15: Issue1. Version 1. 2015. Medicare Update RealTime Laboratories, Inc. started September 1st 2015 taking Assignment of Benefits for your patients with TRADITIONAL MEDICARE. What does this mean for you as a Healthcare Provider and for your patients? pg 2 My Patient Tests Positive for One or More Mycotoxins. What Other Tests do You Recommend? Unexplained Fatigue Profile Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a devastating disorder, with multiple P5400 Unexplained Fatigue symptoms that can sometimes persist for years. Many potential causations Profile Ordering information: for CFS have been proposed and studied, but no single cause has been conclusively demonstrated. There For Celiac Disease: Tissue Transglutaminase IgA ( tTG are a number of studies that show IgA) & tTG IgG, Gliadin IgA that patients from Water Damaged and Gliadin IgG (or Sick) buildings, have clinical For Rhematoid Arthritis: symptoms similar to CFS. Brewer Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide et al showed that a high percentage (CCP), Rheumatoid Factor of CFS patients (those meeting the IgA and Rheumatoid Factor CDC definition) tested positive for IgM mycotoxins in their urine, while a control group was negative. The patients For Autoimmune Thyroid Disease: Thyroid that tested positive generally had exposure to Water Damaged Buildings. Peroxidase (TPO) and Brewer also showed that treatment of CFS patients with Intranasal Thyroglobulin (Tg) Antifungal Therapy, resulted in reduction in mycotoxin levels in the urine For Connective Tissue and clinical improvement in 94% of the patients. Diseases: Anti-Nuclear Antigen (ANA) and dsDNA Since persistent, unexplained fatigue is also commonly found in a number of autoimmune diseases e.g. SLE, Sjoren syndrome, Pricing: $224.00 Rheumatoid Arthritis, Celiac Disease and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, it is important to rule these out, when diagnosing a patient that tests Brewer, J., Thrasher, J., Straus, D., Madison, R. and Hooper, D. “Detection of Mycotoxins positive for mycotoxins. The RealTime Unexplained Fatigue Profile is in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. Toxins. 2013. April 5(4): 605-617. strongly recommended. The Importance of Testing for Macrocyclic Tricothecene Mycotoxins The most frequently detected Mycotoxins in the pathogen. The EPA’s ERMI test (Environmental RealTime Labs Mycotoxin Test Panel are the Relative Moldiness Index) does not include Fusarium Macrocyclic Tricothecenes. These are structurally sp in its 36 mold species different and considerably more toxic than the simple test panel. Be sure you Tricothecenes such as T-2 and DON. Of more are testing for what importance, these Macrocyclic Tricothecenes are could potentially make produced by Stachybotrys, the “Black Mold” found in your patients sick. many mold contaminated homes or water damaged buildings. The simple Tricothecenes are generally Note: RTL was recently notified that its patent application entitled produced by Fusarium, which infects agricultural “Methods and Composition for Detecting Fungi and Mycotoxins” has been allowed for issuance by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This products and has been documented to be a human patent focuses on Macrocyclic Tricothecenes. pg 3 The only lab in the U.S. accredited by CAP and CLIA to perform clinical mycotoxin testing. About Real Time Laboratories, Inc. Real Time Laboratories Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of MSCI, is a CAP certified clinical laboratory and a CLIA accredited and certified laboratory, specializing in the testing of environmental and clinical samples for mold and toxic Mycotoxins produced by mold. RTL performs thousands of Mycotoxin tests each year. Dr. Dennis Hooper, the Medical Director of Real Time Laboratories is a world renowned expert on Mycotoxins. RTL also offers many other tests for antibodies and protein markers associated with allergies and many other diseases that have been linked to mold exposure, such as autoimmune diseases, GI Distress, Celiac Disease and Unexplained Fatigue Syndrome. A complete list of tests offered by RTL is shown below: Real Time Laboratories Patient Navigation Department We at RTL realize that to the average patient, who may be having problems with mold exposure for the first time, there are many questions that arise during their testing. While we encourage constant dialogue with the prescribing physician, we also have a registered nurse, who is an expert in the REALTIME LABORATORIES, INC. subject to talk to. Call our Patient Navigator Toll 4100 Fairway Drive • Suite 600 • Free at 855-MYCO-SOS (855-692-6767) for Carrollton, Texas 75010 assistance on: (972) 492-0419 a. Insurance submission [email protected] b. Sample collection www.realtimelab.com c. Questions about mold and mycotoxins d. Referrals to mold inspectors and doctors pg 4.