Sneezing when you turn the compost, or a cough that hangs around in a damp flat? Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the most common moulds in the world, indoors and out. Our test checks your blood for IgE sensitisation to five single Aspergillus proteins as part of 300 allergens and allergen components, next to Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium and house dust mite.
Aspergillus fumigatus is a mould that breaks down plant material. It is at home in compost and soil, and it moves indoors wherever there is damp. Its spores are very small, so they stay in the air and are breathed deep into the lungs.
Unlike most moulds, it grows well at body temperature. That is why doctors take it particularly seriously in people with lung conditions.
Typical reports are a blocked or runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes around compost, hay or damp rooms. Aspergillus sensitisation is common in people with asthma, so some people notice coughing, wheezing or a tight chest.
Because it is around all year, Aspergillus symptoms can feel like a cold that never quite goes. Testing it next to house dust mite and other moulds helps separate indoor suspects.
In a small number of people with asthma or cystic fibrosis, Aspergillus can grow in the airways and cause a condition called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). It needs a specialist to diagnose and treat it, with tests a home kit does not replace.
If you have asthma or cystic fibrosis and your breathing is getting worse, you cough up brown plugs of mucus, or your usual treatment is working less well, see your doctor. Do not wait for a test result.
From your finger-prick sample, the lab measures IgE to five single Aspergillus fumigatus proteins (molecular components) as part of 300 allergens and allergen components. Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium and house dust mite sit on the same panel. Your report also includes total IgE.
A positive result shows sensitisation, not a confirmed allergy or ABPA. Each value gets a class from Negative to Very high. In research, IgE to Asp f 4 and Asp f 6 showed up mainly in people with ABPA, so a doctor will want to see that pattern if you have asthma or cystic fibrosis.
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One finger-prick sample checks IgE to 300 allergens and allergen components, from birch and peanut to cat and house dust mite. Post it to the lab, and about 5 days after it arrives you get a value for every one. Our plain-English guide shows you how to read them. €399 in total, €1.33 per allergen.
People commonly report sneezing, a blocked nose and itchy eyes around compost, hay or damp rooms, and some notice cough or wheeze. If you have asthma or cystic fibrosis and your breathing is getting worse, see your doctor rather than waiting for a test.
Sometimes, but bathroom mould is often Cladosporium or Penicillium. The panel includes Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Alternaria, so you can see which ones your blood shows IgE to.
No. Many people, especially with asthma, have IgE to Aspergillus without ABPA. ABPA is diagnosed by a specialist using several tests. Your result, including the single proteins Asp f 4 and Asp f 6, is useful to bring to that appointment.
No. The test measures IgE in your blood, not mould in your home. Aspergillus is common outdoors too. If you see damp or mould at home, that needs a look at the building whatever your result.
