Alle: Penicillium chrysogenum (P. notatum) m1 Alle: Penicillium glabrum m209
£84.00
Description
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Important: This is an environmental mould allergy test. It is NOT a drug allergy test for penicillin antibiotic. The allergens tested (m1 and m209) are fungal spore allergens — entirely unrelated to penicillin medication.
m1 · Penicillium chrysogenum (P. notatum)
m209 · Penicillium glabrum
m209 · Penicillium glabrum
You’ve noticed that every time you clean the bathroom, enter a damp basement, or work in a musty environment, your nose starts streaming, your chest tightens, and the sneezing won’t stop. Antihistamines offer some relief, but the symptoms keep coming back. The culprit may not be pollen or pet hair — it could be Penicillium, one of the four most common fungal causes of allergic disease in the UK and worldwide.
Penicillium fungi are ubiquitous — found in soil, on food, in damp buildings, and floating freely in indoor and outdoor air. Prevalence of IgE sensitisation to Penicillium spp. is found to be 1.5–7.3% in the general population and up to 22% in atopic individuals — and up to 29% in asthmatic patients, making it a clinically significant but frequently missed allergen. Our test screens for both major Penicillium species used in specific IgE testing: m1 (P. chrysogenum) and m209 (P. glabrum).
Testing both together matters because these species are ecologically and clinically distinct — and a person may be sensitised to one, the other, or both. Understanding exactly which species is driving your symptoms enables more targeted avoidance and management strategies.
The two allergens: m1 & m209
Although both belong to the Penicillium genus, these two species differ significantly in where they’re found, who is most at risk, and the clinical conditions they can cause.
m1 — Penicillium chrysogenum
Formerly P. notatum — the airborne mould
- ◆Commonly found in soil and indoor/outdoor air
- ◆The species used to produce penicillin antibiotic
- ◆Associated with allergic rhinitis, asthma, and allergic broncho-pulmonary mycosis
- ◆Major allergens: Pen ch 13 (alkaline serine protease) and Pen ch 18 (vacuolar serine protease)
- ◆Sensitisation common in both children and adults, more prevalent in adults
m209 — Penicillium glabrum
The damp-home and occupational mould
- ◆Commonly found in damp indoor environments and homes
- ◆The primary cause of suberosis — an occupational lung disease in cork industry workers
- ◆Also linked to mould-contaminated humidifiers, ventilation systems, and food production environments
- ◆Sensitisation leads to hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and asthma
- ◆Notable allergen proteins of 12–13.5 kDa and 33 kDa — both significantly associated with clinical hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Cross-reactivity between Penicillium species is common. Mono-sensitisation to P. glabrum is unlikely, as the Penicillium-specific allergens described are characteristically cross-reactive. Sensitisation to one Penicillium species is also frequently associated with sensitisation to other moulds including Alternaria and Aspergillus. Testing both m1 and m209 together gives a more complete picture of your fungal sensitisation profile.
Symptoms of a Penicillium allergy
If you experience any of the following symptoms after exposure to mouldy environments, damp buildings, or certain foods, it could indicate a Penicillium allergy. A key signal is that symptoms worsen in damp or mouldy environments and improve when you leave them.
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Sneezing and runny nose — often triggered immediately on entering damp or mouldy spaces
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Nasal congestion — persistent blocked nose that worsens indoors, particularly in bathrooms, basements, or older buildings
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Coughing and wheezing — a persistent or intermittent cough with a wheeze, worsening in damp environments
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Shortness of breath — breathlessness or chest tightness, which can be a sign of mould-triggered asthma or hypersensitivity pneumonitis
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Itchy, watery eyes — allergic conjunctivitis triggered by airborne Penicillium spores
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Skin rashes or hives — urticaria or contact dermatitis following exposure to mouldy materials or surfaces
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Chills or low-grade fever — flu-like symptoms developing hours after exposure, particularly in hypersensitivity pneumonitis
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Asthma symptoms — mould sensitisation is a known trigger for asthma exacerbations, especially in atopic individuals
⚠️ Hypersensitivity pneumonitis — a serious risk from Penicillium exposure
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Penicillium species is a documented condition involving lymphocytic inflammation in the peripheral airways and surrounding lung tissue, producing symptoms including progressive breathlessness, a persistent cough, and fever. Mould-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis results from macrophage- and lymphocyte-driven inflammation and may be attributable to contaminated humidifiers, heating and ventilation systems, or mould sources in homes, schools, or workplaces. If undiagnosed and exposure continues, it can progress to chronic lung disease. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical advice promptly.
What is Penicillium?
Penicillium is a genus of fungi with over 250 species, making it one of the four most common fungal causes of allergic disease in humans. Species belonging to the Penicillium genus are ubiquitous soil and airborne fungi; however, the abundance of fungal spores fluctuates depending on rainfall and location. They thrive near organic material or in damp building environments but can survive with very little water.
In the UK context, Penicillium is one of the most prevalent indoor moulds — thriving in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, poorly ventilated rooms, water-damaged walls, and old buildings. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS both highlight the health risks of damp and mould in the home, particularly for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
The primary route of exposure to allergens of P. chrysogenum is inhalation, while exposure may occur rarely through ingestion and skin contact. P. chrysogenum can induce respiratory allergic symptoms such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and allergic broncho-pulmonary mycosis in sensitised individuals.
Cork material has been reported as contaminated with Penicillium species, leading to a specific type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis termed “suberosis” — an occupational condition affecting cork industry workers. Beyond cork, mould-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis has been increasingly reported as being caused by humidifiers, heating and ventilation systems, and contaminated food production environments.
Who should consider a Penicillium allergy test?
You should consider testing if any of the following apply:
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You live or work in a damp, poorly ventilated, or older building with visible mould -
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Your respiratory symptoms (cough, sneezing, breathlessness) worsen indoors and improve when away from the building -
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You work or have worked in the cork industry, food production, mushroom farming, or other environments with high mould exposure -
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You have asthma that is difficult to control or worsens in damp or mouldy environments -
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You handle mouldy foods, compost, soil, or organic materials regularly -
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Your home has a contaminated humidifier, air conditioning unit, or heating system -
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You have already tested positive to Alternaria or Aspergillus allergens and want to check for co-sensitisation to Penicillium -
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You have been diagnosed with or suspect hypersensitivity pneumonitis and want to identify the fungal trigger
What the science says
When airborne Penicillium spores are inhaled, they can trigger two distinct types of immune response depending on the individual and the pattern of exposure:
IgE-mediated allergy (Type I)
The immune system produces specific IgE antibodies against Penicillium proteins. On re-exposure, these antibodies trigger histamine release, causing classic allergy symptoms: rhinitis, urticaria, conjunctivitis, and allergic asthma. This is what our specific IgE test (m1 and m209) detects.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (Type III/IV)
With repeated high-level exposure, the immune response can go deeper — involving IgG immune complexes (Type III) and T-cell-mediated responses (Type IV) that cause inflammation in lung tissue. This is hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which produces more severe and delayed symptoms and can progress to chronic lung disease.
In mould-sensitised subjects, sensitisation to Penicillium spp. is associated with sensitisation to other moulds, mainly Alternaria spp. and Aspergillus spp. If you test positive to m1 or m209, your clinician may recommend additional mould testing to build a complete picture of your fungal sensitisation profile.
How the test works
No clinic visit required. The entire process is completed from home.
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Order & receive
Your kit arrives by post — lancets, sample cards, step-by-step instructions, and a pre-paid return envelope.
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Collect your sample
Two simple finger-prick blood drops. Takes just a few minutes with clear guidance at every step.
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Post it back
Use the pre-paid return envelope — no additional cost or arrangements needed.
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View your results
Your specific IgE results for m1 and m209 are in your secure portal within 1 week of sample receipt.
Why choose our Penicillium allergy test?
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Two species, one sample
m1 and m209 are both tested from a single finger-prick sample. No separate orders needed for each species.
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True home collection
No clinic visit, no phlebotomist appointment. Collect at home, post back, get results.
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Standardised allergen codes
We test to m1 and m209 — the same internationally recognised allergen codes used by Thermo Fisher and clinical allergy laboratories worldwide.
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Expert follow-up support
Our allergy specialists can provide personalised guidance following your results, including advice on environmental avoidance.
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Secure results portal
Results delivered privately to your secure patient portal — ready to share with your GP or specialist.
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Add one more allergen
This test covers two allergens (m1 + m209). With remote collection, one additional allergen can be added to the same sample in a single checkout.
Test details at a glance
- ✓Allergens: m1 (Penicillium chrysogenum / P. notatum) and m209 (Penicillium glabrum)
- ✓Test type: Specific IgE blood test
- ✓Sample: Finger-prick (two samples provided in the kit)
- ✓Collection: Remote (home) or laboratory
- ✓Remote: this test covers 2 allergens — 1 additional allergen can be added per checkout
- ✓Laboratory: unlimited allergens can be tested simultaneously
- ✓Turnaround: results within 1 week of sample receipt
- ✓Results delivered to your secure patient portal
Frequently asked questions
Is this test related to penicillin antibiotic allergy?
No. This is an environmental mould allergy test for Penicillium fungi — completely unrelated to penicillin medication. The allergens m1 and m209 are fungal spore proteins. Penicillin antibiotic allergy involves a different immune mechanism and requires separate drug allergy testing through your GP or hospital immunology department.
Why are two Penicillium species tested rather than just one?
P. chrysogenum (m1) and P. glabrum (m209) are ecologically and clinically distinct. m1 is the predominant airborne species linked to classic allergic rhinitis and asthma; m209 is more associated with damp indoor environments and hypersensitivity pneumonitis — including occupational suberosis. A person can be sensitised to one but not the other, and the clinical implications differ. Testing both together from a single sample gives a more complete picture at no additional inconvenience.
What is suberosis?
Suberosis is an occupational form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by inhalation of Penicillium glabrum (m209) spores from cork. It is the primary lung disease of cork industry workers and can cause progressive breathlessness, chronic cough, and in severe cases, irreversible pulmonary fibrosis if exposure continues undetected.
I have asthma — how likely am I to be sensitised to Penicillium?
Current sensitisation rates to Penicillium are much higher in asthmatic patients — usually up to 29% — compared to the general population. If you have asthma that is poorly controlled or worsens in damp environments, Penicillium sensitisation is a clinically relevant possibility worth investigating. Environmental remediation — addressing damp, improving ventilation, and removing visible mould — remains a cornerstone of long-term management and should be pursued alongside any pharmacological treatment.
What should I do if my result is positive?
Share your results with your GP or an NHS allergy specialist. They can advise on environmental avoidance measures, medication, and whether an immunology or respiratory referral is appropriate. Our specialists are also available to help you understand your results and next steps. Practical measures include improving ventilation, reducing household damp, replacing mould-contaminated humidifiers or AC filters, and avoiding high-exposure environments where possible.
Can I test for other mould allergens at the same time?
Yes. Because this test already covers 2 allergens (m1 + m209), remote (home) collection allows one additional allergen to be tested from the same sample in a single checkout. For laboratory collection there is no limit — making it easy to test for related moulds such as Alternaria (m6), Aspergillus (m3), or Cladosporium (m2) alongside your Penicillium panel.
How do I access my results?
Results are delivered to your secure patient portal within 1 week of sample receipt. Register before sending your sample at ukallergy.carebit.co/patients/accounts/sign-up.
This test screens for specific IgE antibodies to Penicillium chrysogenum (m1) and Penicillium glabrum (m209). It is an environmental mould allergy test and is NOT related to penicillin antibiotic allergy. Suitable for self-collection (remote) or laboratory collection. Remote collection: this test covers 2 allergens — up to 1 additional allergen can be added per checkout. Laboratory collection: no allergen limit. Results are delivered to your secure patient portal within 1 week of sample receipt. This test is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a clinical diagnosis. If you are experiencing severe or worsening respiratory symptoms, please seek medical attention promptly.
