Summary & Overview
CPT 86717: Leishmania Antibody Immunoassay, Serum
CPT code 86717 designates a laboratory immunoassay that detects antibodies to Leishmania in patient serum. This serologic test supports diagnosis and epidemiologic evaluation of leishmaniasis and can influence clinical management, infection control, and public health reporting. Nationally, accurate coding for specialized parasitology serology ensures appropriate laboratory billing and tracking of infectious disease testing volumes.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication outlines payer coverage patterns, common billing considerations, and where this service typically appears on a laboratory service line.
Readers will find a concise clinical context for CPT code 86717, typical sites of service, and the primary purposes of the test. The summary also points to expected benchmarks and policy considerations affecting laboratory reimbursement, documentation, and coding compliance. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 86717 describes an immunoassay performed on a patient’s serum to detect antibodies to Leishmania, a protozoan parasite. The assay is used to assess serologic evidence of current or prior Leishmania infection.
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Service type: Laboratory serologic testing (immunoassay)
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory; specimen collected in an outpatient clinic, physician office, or hospital setting depending on clinical workflow.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient presents to an outpatient infectious disease clinic or primary care practice with a several-week history of fever, weight loss, splenomegaly, and nonhealing cutaneous lesions after travel to an endemic area (for example, parts of the Middle East, South America, or Mediterranean basin). The clinician obtains a focused travel and exposure history, performs a physical exam noting skin ulcers and regional lymphadenopathy, and orders laboratory testing to evaluate for leishmaniasis. A blood specimen is collected by phlebotomy and sent to the clinical laboratory. In the laboratory, a medical technologist or lab analyst performs an immunoassay detecting anti-Leishmania antibodies to support the diagnosis. Results are reported to the ordering clinician, who integrates serology with clinical findings and, if needed, parasitology (smear, culture, PCR) or tissue biopsy for definitive diagnosis and treatment planning. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinics, hospital outpatient laboratories, public health laboratories, and reference diagnostic laboratories.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Standard reporting when no specific modifier applies |
11 | Primary service |