Mould Lab

27/02/2026

FRIDAY FOCUS: Understanding Immune Load in PANS & PANDAS

PANS and PANDAS are complex inflammatory conditions.
They aren’t simply “an infection problem” — they involve immune activation and neuroinflammation.

For some children, triggers may include infections.
For others, it can be a combination of immune stressors.

Every child is different. Every case is different.

If symptoms persist or feel confusing, families often begin looking at the bigger picture — including inflammation, immune load, and sometimes environmental factors.

What’s so important is that families don’t feel alone navigating this.

Organisations like PANS PANDAS UK are doing incredible work raising awareness, providing resources, supporting parents, and advocating for better recognition and care.

If this condition affects you or someone you love:

• Explore their excellent educational resources
• Join the supportive community
• Share their work
• And if you’re able, consider supporting the charity

These families deserve understanding, not dismissal.

https://panspandasuk.org/

25/02/2026

Between Monday Myths and Friday Focus… we thought Wednesday deserved a moment too 💚

When people are navigating complex health and environmental concerns, feeling supported really matters.

Thank you for trusting us — we don’t take that lightly.

24/02/2026

🧪 New: Gold Environmental Package

We’re pleased to introduce our most comprehensive dust analysis bundle testing for both mould and bacteria.

The Gold Package combines:

✔ ERMI Ultra (NGS fungal profile + HERTSMI-2)
✔ Actinomycetes analysis
✔ Endotoxin testing

Purchased separately, these tests total £920 inc VAT.
The Gold Package is available for £699 inc VAT — a preferential saving of £221 when ordered together.

Designed for situations where mould may not be the only concern and a broader biological assessment is required.

Now live on our website:
https://www.mouldlab.co.uk/collections/testing-bundles/products/gold-environmental-package

23/02/2026

MYTH: PANS & PANDAS are only caused by Strep ❌

While PANDAS was first associated with streptococcal infection, PANS is broader and can be triggered by a range of immune stressors.

The common thread is inflammation and immune activation — not just one infection.

For some families, understanding the full inflammatory picture (including environmental factors) can be an important piece of the puzzle.

To find out more information head to the PANS PANDAS website which has information for all, whether you are a parent, a carer, a professional within healthcare or education, you will find information to support you:
https://panspandasuk.org/

20/02/2026

Friday Focus: Blood vs Urine Mycotoxin Testing

When it comes to body testing for mould exposure, one of the most common questions we see is:

“Which test is better — blood or urine?”

The answer?
They measure different things.

🩸 Blood (IgG / IgE antibodies) looks at how your immune system is responding to specific mould toxins.
It can help identify whether there is an immune-mediated reaction occurring.

🚽 Urine testing measures what is being excreted from the body.
It gives insight into current elimination patterns of certain mycotoxins.

They are not interchangeable.
They are looking at different biological processes.

One reflects immune response.
The other reflects excretion.

Which is appropriate depends on the individual, symptoms, and practitioner guidance.

We provide access to both options so you can choose the route that aligns with your situation.

If you’d like a sample report for either test, comment BLOOD or URINE below and we’ll send one over.

19/02/2026

Last week I joined a New Members Orientation call to better understand the charity we support with every On Line purchase made via Mould Lab.

It was a two-hour Zoom run by a wonderful volunteer who has lived this experience herself and it was incredibly eye-opening.

One thing became very clear: You cannot truly understand PANS or PANDAS unless you’ve lived it. And that makes the volunteers supporting this community even more remarkable.

Unfortunately, it is often a diagnostic nightmare. There are no definitive tests, only tests to rule out other conditions. Even then, due to limited awareness, it’s not always something GPs immediately consider.

Which is why raising awareness is so important.

The more people understand PANS and PANDAS, the greater the chance that children struggling with sudden behavioural, neurological or emotional changes can be recognised sooner, and families can access the support they need more quickly.

PANS PANDAS UK provide more than information. Their website is full of guidance to help families navigate healthcare and education, but perhaps most importantly, they provide community both In-person meetings and Online support groups.
Safe spaces where parents feel understood and supported.

If you believe your child could be struggling with PANS or PANDAS, I would absolutely recommend taking a look at their website and joining one of their calls.

The orientation session I attended was warm, informative and deeply reassuring.

No family should feel alone while navigating this.

https://panspandasuk.org/

16/02/2026

Blood tests can’t diagnose mould illness — but they can tell us something important.

IgE and IgG mycotoxin antibody testing measures your immune response to mould toxins.

That means:
• It can show whether your body is reacting
• It can support symptom investigation
• It can help guide next steps alongside environmental testing

It’s not about a single “positive” or “negative.”
It’s about context.

If you’re navigating mould-related symptoms and unsure where to start, this is for you.

Take a look at the IgG & IgE Blood test for Myctoxins: https://www.mouldlab.co.uk/collections/blood-tests/products/igg-and-ige-antibodies-blood-test-mycotoxins-1

15/02/2026

Only 3 days to have your say and help advocate for better services to support families affected by PANS/PANDAS.

Please spare the time to complete this survey if you can. 💚

Your child’s story matters. And right now, it could change the future of PANS & PANDAS care in the UK. ()

If you’re a parent or carer of a child with PANS or PANDAS, I really encourage you to take a few minutes to complete this national survey from PANS PANDAS UK.

This isn’t “just another survey”.

Your lived experience will directly feed into two major publications due this summer, including:
- a parliamentary lived-experience report (with the PANS PANDAS APPG), and
- a Cost-Benefit Analysis with the London School of Economics, showing the real cost of current gaps in care — to families and to the public purse.

These documents will be used in discussions with:
- the Department of Health and Social Care
- the Department for Education
- the NHS
- Local Authorities

In other words: this evidence will help shape policy, funding, training and services.

As Vicky Burford, CEO of PANS PANDAS UK, says: “The more people who complete our survey, the stronger our evidence base will be.”

If you’ve ever felt unheard, dismissed, or left to navigate this alone — this is a moment where your voice genuinely counts.

🕒 The survey closes Wednesday, 18th February
👉https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PANSPANDASUK?dm_i=7QI6,2HX47,6BYG46,5C6KO,1,0,0,0

Please share with any families who may be affected. The impact of this work will only be as strong as the voices behind it 💙

13/02/2026

ERMI isn’t about being “better” or “worse.”

It’s about depth of data and using the right test.

The original ERMI compares 36 species to help identify water-damage patterns.
ERMI PLUS expands that panel for broader screening.
ERMI ULTRA uses next-generation sequencing to detect all identifiable fungal DNA in your dust sample.

More data doesn’t automatically mean “more severe” — it means more clarity.

If you’re unsure which level is appropriate, we’re happy to explain the differences so you can make an informed decision.

💬 Comment with the ERMI you’re interested in (ERMI / PLUS / ULTRA) and we’ll send a sample report.

10/02/2026

Reviews like this remind us why we do what we do 💚

Mould and environmental concerns aren’t one-size-fits-all, and we’re always happy to help clients work through the right next steps.

Thank you for recommending us.

09/02/2026

Monday Myth: ERMI is "useless" because it’s based on US data.

ERMI was created as a statistical comparison tool — not a diagnostic test. The issue isn’t the test itself, but relying on scores and colour bands without understanding the underlying species data.

When used correctly, ERMI helps build a clearer picture of mould burden and patterns — especially when viewed alongside building history and context.

This Friday, we’ll be explaining the different ERMI testing options now available and what makes them different.

07/02/2026

It’s not always just mould.

Actinomycetes are Gram-positive bacteria commonly found in water-damaged buildings and are often present alongside mould — but rarely tested for.

Some clinicians working in the CIRS space, including Dr Shoemaker, have suggested bacterial exposure may help explain cases where mould testing or remediation alone doesn’t fully account for ongoing symptoms.

We now offer Actinomycetes testing at Mould Lab:

🔬 Environmental dust testing
https://www.mouldlab.co.uk/collections/testing-your-surfaces/products/actino-dust-test-actinomycetes-analysis

🧬 Skin swab testing (body exposure)
https://www.mouldlab.co.uk/collections/swab-tests/products/actinobacteria-skin-plus

If mould testing hasn’t given you answers, this may be a missing piece worth exploring.

💬 DM us if you’re unsure which test is right for you

(Testing provides exposure insight only — not diagnosis.)