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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTissue Typing Immunological ProceduresCPT cpt-86805-transplant-lymphocyte-crossmatch-compatibility-test
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    CPT 86805: Lymphocyte Crossmatch with Recipient Serum

    CPT code 86805 describes a laboratory lymphocyte crossmatch in which donor lymphocytes are mixed with recipient serum at increasing dilutions and examined microscopically for cell lysis to detect transplant incompatibility; this is a serologic compatibility test typically performed by a clinical laboratory or histocompatibility/immunogenetics lab as part of pre-transplant immunologic evaluation and compatibility testing, usually performed in an outpatient laboratory or hospital lab setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Biomarker Testing for Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease, Immunopharmacologic Monitoring of Therapeutic Serum Antibodies, Immune Cell Function Assay.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 52-year-old female with end-stage renal disease is evaluated before a planned kidney transplant from a living-related donor. Pre-transplant immunologic compatibility testing is ordered. In the clinical workflow, the transplant coordinator obtains donor and recipient blood samples and sends them to the histocompatibility laboratory. A clinical laboratory scientist or histocompatibility analyst performs the cell cytotoxicity crossmatch assay by mixing donor lymphocytes with serial dilutions of recipient serum, incubating, and microscopically observing for complement-mediated cell lysis. Results are reported to the transplant team to inform immunologic risk and guide donor selection and perioperative immunosuppression planning. Typical site of service is a hospital-based immunology/histocompatibility laboratory or an independent clinical reference laboratory supporting transplant programs. The service type is a specialized transplant compatibility immunology test (lymphocytotoxic crossmatch).

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    86805Cell cytotoxicity crossmatch; donor lymphocytes mixed with recipient serum, microscopically observed for cell lysis indicating transplant incompatibilityPrimary procedure; detects preformed cytotoxic antibodies indicating transplant incompatibility.
    86900Crossmatch testing, platelet; donor platelets with recipient serumMay be ordered for platelet transfusion or platelet donor compatibility in transplant recipients with alloimmunization.
    86850HLA typing and antibody detection (laboratory procedures vary)Performed alongside to define HLA types and identify specific anti-HLA antibodies that contribute to positive crossmatch.
    86003Hemagglutination/hemolytic test for unexpected antibodies (screening test)Initial serologic antibody screens that can precede or accompany cytotoxic crossmatch testing.
    86255Antibody identification; serum/plasmaUsed to identify specificity of antibodies detected that may cause positive cytotoxic crossmatch results.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RH0000X
    2080P0207X
    3336C0002X
    2084P0800X
    261QH0700X
    1223X0008X
    363L00000X
    1710I1002X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    B20Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease
    B34.9Viral infection, unspecified
    D47.1Chronic myeloproliferative disease
    D61.09Other constitutional aplastic anemia
    D86.0Sarcoidosis of lung
    I12.9Hypertensive chronic kidney disease with stage 1 through stage 4 chronic kidney disease, or unspecified chronic kidney disease
    I50.9Heart failure, unspecified
    J18.9Pneumonia, unspecified organism
    K72.90Hepatic failure, unspecified without coma

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Immunology/Rheumatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Biomarker Testing for Autoimmune Rheumatic DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Immunopharmacologic Monitoring of Therapeutic Serum AntibodiesOscar Health2026-10-01
    Immune Cell Function AssayOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarker Testing for Autoimmune Rheumatic DiseaseBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04
    Inflammatory Conditions - Orencia Intravenous Preferred Specialty Management Policy for Legacy Prescription Drug ListsCigna2026-09-01
    Secukinumab (Cosentyx) — intravenous (Medicare Advantage)blue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-09-01
    Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) — indications and authorization criteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-28
    Infliximab Intravenous Products Preferred Specialty Management PolicyCigna2026-08-15
    Kineret (anakinra) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-14
    Actimmune (interferon gamma-1b) — Prior Authorization and Coverage Criteriameridian_health_plan_of_michigan2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-86806-SEROLOGIC-CROSSMATCH-DONOR-LYMPHOCYTE-RECIPIENT-SERUM

    CPT 86806: Lymphocyte Crossmatch, Donor Lymphocytes with Recipient Serum

    CPT-86807-HLA-ANTIBODY-SCREENING-TRANSPLANT-COMPATIBILITY

    CPT 86807: HLA Antibody Percent Reactive Screening

    CPT-86808-HLA-PERCENT-REACTIVE-ANTIBODY-SCREENING

    CPT 86808: HLA Percent Reactive Antibody Screen

    CPT-86812-HLA-CLASS-I-SINGLE-ANTIGEN-SEROLOGIC-TEST

    CPT 86812: HLA Class I Antigen Serologic Typing

    CPT-86813-HLA-CLASS-I-SEROLOGIC-TYPING

    CPT 86813: HLA Class I Serologic Typing (A, B, C)

    CPT-86816-HLA-CLASS-II-SEROLOGIC-SINGLE-ANTIGEN-TYPING-DR-DQ

    CPT 86816: HLA Class II Single Antigen Serology

    CPT-86817-HLA-CLASS-II-DR-DQ-SEROLOGIC-IDENTIFICATION

    CPT 86817: HLA Class II DR/DQ Serologic Typing

    CPT-86821-HLA-LYMPHOCYTE-CROSSMATCH-COMPATIBILITY-TEST

    CPT 86821: Lymphocyte Crossmatch for HLA Incompatibility

    CPT-86825-HLA-CROSSMATCH-FLOW-CYTOMETRY

    CPT 86825: HLA Crossmatch by Non-Cytotoxic Method

    CPT-86826-HLA-CROSSMATCH-FLOW-CYTOMETRY-BASED-COMPATIBILITY-TEST

    CPT 86826: HLA Crossmatch by Non-Cytotoxic Method

    Showing 1–10 of 19

    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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