Summary & Overview
CPT 86277: Immunoassay for Antibodies to Human Growth Hormone
CPT code 86277 designates a laboratory immunoassay performed on serum or plasma to detect antibodies to human growth hormone (HGH). This test is clinically important for monitoring immunogenic responses in patients receiving growth hormone therapy and for assessing unexplained treatment failure or adverse reactions. As a specialized serologic assay, it is typically processed in certified clinical or hospital laboratories, and the results can influence therapeutic decisions and pharmacovigilance.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides national-level context on coding and clinical application rather than state-specific guidance.
Readers will find an overview of clinical context for anti-HGH antibody testing, descriptions of typical sites of service, and an outline of what types of benchmarks and policy elements are commonly relevant for this category of laboratory testing. Where available, the publication summarizes payer coverage themes, billing considerations, and common modifiers used with laboratory CPT codes. Data not provided in the input (such as associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and detailed payer-specific policies) are noted as unavailable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 86277 describes an immunoassay performed on serum or plasma to detect antibodies to human growth hormone (HGH). The procedure involves laboratory analysis to evaluate whether a patient has developed antibodies directed against recombinant or endogenous human growth hormone.
Service Type: Laboratory immunoassay testing for anti-HGH antibodies
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory (ambulatory collection site for specimen acquisition; analysis performed in a certified lab)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 14-year-old patient with a history of idiopathic short stature has been receiving recombinant human growth hormone therapy for two years. The endocrinologist orders laboratory monitoring to evaluate for anti–human growth hormone (anti-HGH) antibodies because atypical growth velocity and injection site reactions have been observed. A phlebotomy technician collects a serum specimen during an outpatient clinic visit. The sample is sent to the clinical laboratory, where a laboratory analyst performs an immunoassay to detect and quantify antibodies to human growth hormone using CPT 86277. The laboratory documents specimen receipt, assay run, results, and interpretation in the electronic laboratory information system. Results are routed to the ordering endocrinologist for correlation with clinical findings and potential treatment considerations. Typical site of service is an outpatient clinical laboratory or hospital outpatient laboratory; the service type is clinical diagnostic immunoassay testing.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional interpretation component if separated from technical component |
TC |