TMAU / BODY MALODOR
EVALUATION
Thank you for contacting the Monell Center for information about our
diagnostic procedures for body and oral malodor. Monell is a non-profit,
basic scientific research center focused on understanding the senses
of taste and smell. We are not a medical clinic.
Our waiting list for malodor diagnostic evaluations currently
is about 80 people long with a wait of 12-18 months.
If
you are interested in a diagnosis for your malodor problem, send
an email to bodyodorinfo@monell.org. To
help us determine whether we will be able to evaluate your problem,
be sure
to include all of
the following information in your email:
-
Your name, age, sex, marital status, and number of
children
-
A
complete description of your symptoms, including how long
they have been present and how frequently
they occur
-
Does the odor originate from a particular part of
your body: upper body, head, groin,
etc?
-
Does anyone else in your family have similar symptoms?
-
Do close relatives, friends or co-workers tell you
when the odor is present?
-
Does the odor vary with respect to your menstrual
cycle?
-
Have you seen a doctor for this problem? If
so, what did s/he tell you?
-
Important: Is there someone you know
and trust who can tell you when the odor
is present?
Malodor diagnostic evaluations are performed by Dr.
George Preti as part of his scientific research program
on the origin, chemistry, and function of human body odors.
Dr. Preti has a PhD in organic chemistry
and is a full-time research scientist. He is not
a
physician or dentist and does not treat patients.
In order for Dr. Preti to make a comprehensive diagnostic
evaluation, you must come to Monell, which is
located in Philadelphia, on two successive days.
This diagnostic service is not supported by public
or private funding, so there is a cost of $300
to cover a portion of the expenses. We can
not accept insurance or do
third
party billing.
In our experience, the most common cause for
undiagnosed malodor production is the genetically-inherited
odor-producing
disorder trimethylaminuria (TMAU). Click
here for a description of TMAU and
an outline of our diagnostic
protocol for
patients.
TMAU is diagnosed by urine analysis. If you
suspect you have TMAU and want to get the
urine analysis done while waiting for an
appointment with
Dr.
Preti:
-
-
-
The test kit will contain specific information on
how to collect your urine and ship
it
to the Monell Center. You
will need to ship the sample packed
in
dry ice in an insulated
container.
The urine analysis lab
workup usually takes
between 4 to 6 weeks.
Dr. Preti personally
reviews all inquiries, but please
be
patient. It may take
up to
2 weeks for him to
respond
to your email – but
he will respond. At that
time, he will tell you whether
he may be able
to try to diagnose
your malodor problem.
Please
be patient while waiting
for a response.
Although we realize
that
it may be frustrating
to wait, please
do
not contact us
again, as that will take
time from
our work efforts. However,
if
you do not hear
from us after a reasonable
period
(3 months) or if your
information changes, please
contact
us again.
Please
do not call
Monell’s
main
number
or the
Monell-Jefferson
Taste
and Smell
Clinic,
as they
will
not be
able to
help
you with malodor
problems.
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