Genetic Susceptibility

By mold recovery 1/27/2011 , , 7 comments
Why do some people become chronically ill following an exposure to toxic mold, while others recover quickly? I received an email this week from an individual who vacated a stachybotrys-infested office three weeks ago and is already much better. We left our home two years ago and are still working on our recovery. Numerous factors contribute to the mystery, such as the level and duration of the exposure, prior exposures, and the age of the individual. The biggest factor, however, involves genetics.

This factor is known as "genetic predisposition" or "genetic susceptibility." A staggering 25 percent of the population is genetically wired to have a tough time ridding itself of the deadly microbes associated with water-damaged buildings. For this group of individuals, the invading pathogens are not "tagged" and cleared by the body. Instead, they run freely. The body is then left to deal with the attackers in any way it can—which leads to inflammation, so often at the root of chronic conditions.

I remember the day our doctor shared the results of our genetic testing. The pieces of our family's health puzzle suddenly fit together. Chris has one of the susceptible genes. I have two multisusceptible genes. I fall into the "dreaded genotype" group: double 4353, a category shared by 7 percent of the population. The implication? Each one of our children will have difficulty clearing these toxins. No wonder we were having a tough time recovering!

The test is a blood test and is available through Lab Corp, and can be ordered by any physician. It's listed on the Biotoxin Pathway Order Sheet located at this website. The test looks like this on the order sheet:

Test: HLA
Lab: Lab Corp
Spec: Yellow, refrig
Code #: 012542
DX Codes: 279.10, 377.34, 279.8

Interpreting the test results is complicated, but not impossible. The Rosetta Stone, developed by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, offers a summary of the various susceptible genetic types, with directions for interpretation. Dr. Eric Gordon describes the process in his overview of Dr. Shoemaker's work, titled Biotoxins, Innate Immune Response, and Lyme. Click here for his excerpted summary.

My lab results appear below as an example. DRB1 is 4. DQB1 is 3. DRB4=53. 4353 is multisusceptible.


As Dr. Gordon states in his overview, this genetic piece helps eliminate some of the guesswork involved in recovery. For those who have not been injured, this type of genetic awareness can help avoid a serious exposure and consequential health issues.

7 comments :

  1. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2011 at 12:39 PM

    Yes, difficult to read and understand but every time I review it, the more I grasp. Gordon's analysis is very interesting too. Thanks for posting this Andrea! kt

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  2. The FoxesJanuary 28, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    Our 4-3-53 haplotype is good to know, too. We'll try to avoid the "sicker, quicker" subsequent exposures with AWAREness and ERMI testing of the church, workplace, college dorms, etc. 25% of buildings are damaged by water. Thanks Andrea.

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  3. StephJanuary 29, 2011 at 8:10 PM

    I also have the "dreaded" genotype of 4-3-53 plus another susceptible gene. :(

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  4. MaribethJanuary 30, 2011 at 12:39 AM

    I think this is important for the world to see - You and others who have been affected by mold are not over-reacting to this very real problem. How much does this test cost to run?

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  5. mold recoveryJanuary 30, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    This is a test covered by insurance in most cases. It's not an obscure test run by a specialty lab. Any GP who is willing can order this test. From what I can tell the test is run to determine bone marrow compatibility.

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  6. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    Thanks Andrea. I will ask my health care provider about this.

    Beth in PA

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  7. LindaFebruary 8, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    Thank you for posting this Andrea. It seems me and the rest of my family are getting better except one so it's good to know we can test and find out if the genotype is why.

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