What this marker shows
Verrucarin J is a macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxin most often associated with Stachybotrys chartarum (“black mold”) and a few related fungi. In this panel, Verrucarin J is measured in urine (typically by LC-MS/MS) and normalized to urine creatinine to account for dilution; elevated values suggest recent exposure and excretion over the prior days to weeks, rather than lifetime body stores.
Why clinicians care
Macrocyclic trichothecenes (satratoxins, roridins, verrucarins) are potent inhibitors of eukaryotic protein synthesis via interaction with the ribosomal peptidyl-transferase center, which can trigger cellular stress and downstream inflammatory effects at sufficient doses. Human symptom patterns from indoor exposure are nonspecific (airway and mucous-membrane irritation, cough, wheeze, headache, fatigue), so results are interpreted in context of exposure history and building conditions.
Common exposure sources
-
Water-damaged buildings with active dampness/leaks supporting growth of Stachybotrys; macrocyclic trichothecenes can become airborne on spores and smaller fragments and be inhaled.
-
Any setting with chronic moisture problems (plumbing leaks, roof/condensate intrusion, flooding, poorly ventilated bathrooms/basements). Public-health guidance treats all indoor molds similarly: fix moisture, remove growth safely, and don’t rely on species identification to decide about cleanup.
How to read your result
-
At or below your lab’s reference range: Consistent with the reference population used for this assay.
-
Above range: Indicates higher-than-expected recent exposure. A single urine value cannot pinpoint timing or dose, and inter-individual excretion varies; trend results and match them to exposure changes. (Because urine concentration fluctuates with hydration, use creatinine-corrected results and try to collect under similar conditions when comparing over time.)
What can raise or skew this result?
-
Recent time in a damp/water-damaged space (home, office, school), disturbance of contaminated materials, or inadequate containment during renovations.
-
Sample timing and hydration: Very dilute or concentrated urine can complicate comparisons—stick with creatinine-corrected values and consistent collection timing.
Practical next steps (if elevated)
-
Eliminate moisture and visible growth: Address leaks at the source, dry wet materials quickly, and remove mold-damaged porous materials that can’t be cleaned effectively (e.g., drywall, carpet, ceiling tiles). Follow established remediation practices (containment, dust suppression, HEPA filtration).
-
Improve air and surface hygiene: Use local exhaust/ventilation, HEPA vacuuming, and damp-wiping to minimize dust; avoid uncontained demolition that can aerosolize fragments.
-
Personal measures during cleanup: Consider competent professionals for larger jobs; if you must assist, use appropriate PPE (at minimum, a well-fitting respirator and eye/skin protection).
-
Health follow-up: If symptoms persist or your value remains high after remediation, discuss with a clinician familiar with indoor environmental exposures. Many providers re-check urine in ~2–3 weeks after source control under similar collection conditions to confirm a downward trend.
Science corner
-
Stachybotrys can produce multiple macrocyclic trichothecenes—including satratoxins, roridins, and verrucarins (e.g., Verrucarin J)—depending on strain/chemotype and substrate; production on common building materials has been demonstrated experimentally.
-
Airborne transport of macrocyclic trichothecenes from Stachybotrys has been documented, supporting inhalation as a plausible indoor exposure route.
-
At the cellular level, trichothecenes bind ribosomes and halt translation, a well-characterized mechanism underlying their cytotoxic potency.
Bottom line: Verrucarin J in urine reflects recent contact with water-damage–related mycotoxins (most often from Stachybotrys). If your value is above range, prioritize moisture control and proper remediation, minimize dust/aerosols during cleanup, and retest after changes to document improvement. Public-health guidance emphasizes fixing the building first; targeted clinical evaluation is considered when symptoms persist despite successful remediation.
What does it mean if your Verrucarin J result is too high?
Verrucarin J, also known as Muconomycin B, is a potent trichothecene mycotoxin produced by fungi in the Myrothecium group. It has been studied for its ability to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) in various cancer cell lines, including A549 (lung), HCT 116 (colon), and SW-620 (metastatic colon). Verrucarin J also exhibits antimicrobial activity against fungi such as Candida albicans and Mucor miehei.
Associated Health Risks
Exposure to Verrucarin J can result in serious toxic effects, including:
-
Immune suppression
-
Cytotoxicity and cellular damage
-
Skin necrosis, hemorrhage, and anemia
-
Granulocytopenia and oral epithelial lesions
-
Hematopoietic dysfunction, alimentary toxic aleukia (ATA)
-
Hypotension and coagulation disorders
Its toxicity stems from its ability to disrupt key cellular processes, including protein synthesis and mitochondrial function, while generating oxidative stress.
Possible Sources of Exposure
Verrucarin J is produced by Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold), commonly found in moist, water-damaged indoor environments. It poses a risk through:
-
Inhalation of airborne mycotoxins in mold-contaminated spaces
-
Ingestion of contaminated food or water
-
Dermal absorption, due to its ability to penetrate cell membranes
Because it is a lipophilic and low-molecular-weight toxin, Verrucarin J is capable of spreading easily throughout the body once absorbed.
Detoxification Strategies
-
Activated charcoal can bind Verrucarin J in the gastrointestinal tract, aiding in its excretion via the bowels. For best results, it should be taken away from meals, medications, and supplements.
-
Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, and selenium can help counteract the damaging effects of ROS triggered by this toxin.
-
A supportive diet rich in probiotics, essential nutrients, high-quality proteins, and healthy fats may help reduce inflammation and support recovery from mycotoxin-related symptoms.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.