Methods and compositions for detecting fungi and mycotoxins

A method of quantifying a mycotoxin in a patient tissue or a body fluid, the method comprising:

• extracting and recovering the mycotoxin from the patient tissue or the body fluid, wherein the mycotoxin is selected from the group consisting of aflatoxins and ochratoxins, wherein the body fluid is selected from the group consisting of a urine sample, a nasal secretion sample, a nasal wash sample, and a sputum sample, and wherein the patient has been exposed to mold;
• and
• quantifying the mycotoxin to determine whether the patient has a fungal infection that produces the mycotoxin, wherein the method detects 1.0 ng/ml of an aflatoxin or 2.0 ng/ml of an ochratoxin.

A method of determining if a patient is at risk for or has developed a disease state related to a fungal infection that produces a mycotoxin, the method comprising:

• extracting and recovering the mycotoxin from a tissue or a body fluid of the patient, wherein the mycotoxin is selected from the group consisting of aflatoxins and ochratoxins, wherein the body fluid is selected from the group consisting of a urine sample, a nasal secretion sample, a nasal wash sample, and a sputum sample, and wherein the patient has been exposed to mold;
• and
• quantifying the mycotoxin to determine if the patient is at risk for or has developed the disease state related to the fungal infection that produces the mycotoxin, wherein the method detects 1.0 ng/ml of an aflatoxin or 2.0 ng/ml of an ochratoxin.