Providers have
two new CPT codes to report for blood tests to check for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies. The codes, which allow reporting of one-step and two-step testing methods, took effect April 10, according to an AMA update.
The new codes are:
- 86328 Immunoassay for infectious agent antibody(ies), qualitative or semiquantitative, single step method (eg, reagent strip; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoVID-19) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]); and
- 86769 Antibody; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]).
The codes differ from the coronavirus lab code,
87635, that
CPT issued on March 13. Specifically, code 87635 reports detection of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in respiratory specimens obtained using a nasal probe “from which DNA/RNA is obtained and analyzed,” the AMA states in an FAQ issued with the new codes.
By contrast, the two new blood test codes “are used to identify the presence of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” the AMA explains.
As for the difference between the two new antibody tests, code 86328 is a single-step test using a reagent strip that may potentially be used at the point of care, the AMA states. By contrast, code 86769 should be reported for multi-step testing.
The CPT Assistant gives examples of each test being administered to symptomatic patients suspected to have COVID-19.
For 86328 the example describes the patient’s blood added to “a reagent strip cartridge coated with anti-human monoclonal IgM and IgG antibodies and goat anti-mouse IgG antibodies” in addition to a diluent. “After the specimen and reagents advance to and react with the test area of the reagent strip, the specimen is read optically, observing the control, the IgG and IgM bands.”
For code 86769, the AMA offers an example: "A sample of the patient’s serum or plasma is diluted in buffer and aliquot of the diluted sample and controls in duplicate are added to a multi-well plate, incubated and washed. Peroxidase-conjugated mouse anti-human IgG and IgM antibodies are added to the sample plate and incubated. A chromogenic substrate is added, incubated and immediately read at 450 nm using a microtiter plate reader.”
Providers should check with their payers on their readiness to process the new antibody codes.