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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesQualitative or Semiquantitative ImmunoassaysCPT cpt-86738-mycoplasma-antibody-immunoassay-serum
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    CPT 86738: Mycoplasma Antibody Immunoassay, Serum

    CPT code 86738 describes an immunoassay performed by a laboratory analyst to detect antibodies to Mycoplasma in a patient’s serum, a clinical infectious disease serology test typically billed as a laboratory service and performed in an outpatient or clinical laboratory setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Diagnosis of Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance, Allergen Testing, Allergen Testing.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adolescent or adult presenting with acute respiratory symptoms such as persistent cough, fever, sore throat, or atypical pneumonia signs following a community or household exposure. A primary care physician, urgent care clinician, or emergency department provider orders serologic testing for Mycoplasma pneumoniae when clinical suspicion for atypical bacterial respiratory infection remains after initial evaluation or when molecular testing is unavailable or negative. The sample is a serum specimen collected via routine venipuncture and sent to the clinical laboratory. The laboratory analyst performs an immunoassay (86738) to detect specific IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Mycoplasma. Results are reported to the ordering provider and incorporated into the clinical record to guide antimicrobial decisions, public health reporting, or follow-up testing (e.g., convalescent titers). Typical site of service is an outpatient clinic, urgent care center, hospital outpatient laboratory, or independent clinical laboratory. The service type is diagnostic serology (immunoassay) performed by the clinical laboratory; the typical patient scenario includes suspected atypical pneumonia, persistent cough after usual viral course, or investigation of a community outbreak.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipuncturePerformed prior to 86738 to obtain the serum specimen for immunoassay.
    86038Antibody; culture and sensitivity (not specific to mycoplasma)Alternative serologic or immunologic antibody testing performed in parallel or as follow-up when broader antibody panels are indicated.
    87804Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay, multiple-step method (e.g., respiratory pathogen antigen)Performed in some workflows for rapid antigen testing; 86738 may be ordered when antigen tests are negative or to detect immune response.
    87449Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (e.g., Mycoplasma pneumoniae PCR)Molecular testing often complements serology; PCR may be performed before or alongside 86738 for acute infection detection.
    xpData not available in the input.Data not available in the input.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207Q00000XFamily Medicine PhysicianFamily Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    208D00000XGeneral Practice PhysicianA physician who specializes in the general practice of diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with a variety of illnesses and conditions.
    207T00000XNeurological Surgery PhysicianA neurological surgeon provides the operative and non-operative management (i.e., prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care, and reh…
    261QP3300XPain Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
    247ZC0005XClinical Laboratory Director (Non-physician)An individual who is state-licensed as a clinical laboratory director and meets the qualifications in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments o…
    103TH0004XHealth PsychologistA psychologist who specializes in clinical health psychology that investigates and implements clinical services across diverse populations and setting…

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Allergy/Clinical Immunology1 / 3

    9 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Diagnosis of Idiopathic Environmental IntoleranceOscar Health2026-10-01
    Allergen Testingblue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-09-15
    Allergen TestingBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04
    Hereditary Angioedema - EkterlyCigna2026-08-15
    Omalizumab products (Xolair, Omlyclo) coveragePremera Bluecross2026-08-01
    Omalizumab Products (Xolair, Omlyclo) coveragePremera Bluecross2026-08-01
    Omalizumab ProductsPremera Bluecross2026-08-01
    Allergy Testinguniverahealthcare2026-07-16
    Omalizumab (Xolair) and related biologics coverageMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-07-01

    Related Codes

    86803-QUALITATIVE-OR-SEMIQUANTITATIVE-IMMUNOASSAYS-HEPATITIS-C

    CPT 86803: Hepatitis C Antibody Immunoassay in Serum

    CPT-86000-FEBRILE-AGGLUTININS-SEROLOGIC-TEST

    CPT 86000: Febrile Agglutinins (Serologic Agglutination) Test

    CPT-86001-ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC-IGG-LABORATORY-TEST

    CPT 86001: Allergen-Specific IgG Assay, Technical Component

    CPT-86003-ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC-IGE-ASSAY-TECHNICAL

    CPT 86003: Allergen‑Specific IgE Assay Using Crude Allergen Extract

    CPT-86005-MULTI-ALLERGEN-IGE-SCREENING-QUALITATIVE

    CPT 86005: Multi-Allergen Allergen-Specific IgE Screening

    CPT-86008-ALLERGEN-COMPONENT-SPECIFIC-IGE-ASSAY

    CPT 86008: Allergen Component–Specific IgE Assay

    CPT-86015-ANTI-ACTIN-SMOOTH-MUSCLE-ANTIBODY-ASMA

    CPT 86015: Actin (Smooth Muscle) Antibody (ASMA) Immunoassay

    CPT-86021-LEUKOCYTE-ANTIBODY-IDENTIFICATION-LAB-TECHNICAL

    CPT 86021: Leukocyte Antibody Identification Laboratory Test

    CPT-86022-PLATELET-ANTIBODY-IDENTIFICATION-TECHNICAL-TEST

    CPT 86022: Platelet Antibody Detection and Identification

    CPT-86023-PLATELET-ASSOCIATED-IMMUNOGLOBULIN-DETECTION

    CPT 86023: Platelet-Associated Immunoglobulin Assay

    Showing 1–10 of 199

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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