24 % of the US population has the genetic susceptibility to toxic bacteria and molds from WDB’s and 20% has susceptibility to Borrelia (Lyme Disease). This is a defect in an area called HLA on the 6th Chromosome. If exposed to these organisms, these patients have no effective innate immune response to identify and eliminate them. The result is chronic immune system inflammation and multiple brain and hormonal abnormalities. According to NIOSH, 50% of the buildings in the US are WDB’s. According to the CDC, 300,000 new cases of Lyme Disease were reported last year. Thus, there are a lot of potential patients with CIRS.
There are two great screening tests for CIRS that you can do right now
A visual screening test for CIRS exists. It is called Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) testing. It is based on the fact that Biotoxins, such as those made by toxic molds and bacteria, are neurotoxins that affect the brain and retinal artery blood flow. High levels of Cytokines, made by our bodies to activate our immune systems, also affect these. This interferes with the ability to discriminate white and gray (contrast). The VCS test has been found to be very useful in identifying CIRS patients.
If the symptoms are present (multiple organ systems and multiple symptoms) and the VCS test is positive, even in one eye, there is a 98.5% chance of having CIRS. This makes it one of the most accurate screening tests in medicine. 8% of patients can be false negative, meaning they have the symptoms, but can pass the test. These tend to be younger people with an eye for details, like graphic designers, artists, baseball and tennis players.
When taking the test, follow instructions exactly at survivngmold.com. You must have good lighting and your eyes must be measured from the screen as instructed. If you have glasses you wear for working on the computer or reading, use them. You must have 20/50 vision or better for the test to be accurate. Don’t make up answers to what you are shown; simply identify the direction the lines are going. If you can’t see it, just say so. You will do each eye separately. You will be given a score by the website and a determination of the likelihood of Biotoxins present.
In addition, there is a Symptom Questionnaire on the website, when you do the VCS test, to help assess your likelihood of CIRS. It is divided into groups of symptoms called clusters. You can download a version of this on our website under resources. Check off the symptoms that you are dealing with on a regular basis. If you check anything in a cluster, it is positive. If you have 6 or more clusters positive, then you need a workup for CIRS. If you have 8 or more clusters positive, it is 98% accurate for CIRS. This has been published and prospectively validated.
The diagnosis of CIRS is by the presence of symptoms, a failed VCS test (remember, 8% of patients can pass this though), a history of possible exposure, and by laboratory findings. The blood work is designed to check for the presence of genetic susceptibility to Biotoxins, evidence of depressed Hypothalamus (part of the brain) hormone production, and signs of immune system inflammation (elevated Cytokines). The presence of Autoimmunity is sought as many patients have evidence that their body is attacking itself; this may be expressed in any number of Autoimmune disorders. Blood and saliva testing for Thyroid, Adrenal and Hormone imbalances is completed. In addition, nutrient and vitamin levels are assessed. A special brain MRI called NeuroQuant detects structural atrophy to areas of the brain that are common with these disorders and help account for the brain dysfunction many patients experience. A test called GENIE is available that assesses the transcriptome, or how DNA is being transcribed to messenger RNA, so that precise epigenetics can be used to guide diagnosis and treatment.