Summary & Overview

CPT 86807: HLA Antibody Screening for Transplant Compatibility

CPT code 86807 represents an immunogenetic laboratory screening that quantifies the percent reactive antibody in a transplant recipient's serum against potential donor human leukocyte antigens (HLA). This test is a key pre-transplant compatibility assessment used to identify recipients at elevated risk of donor-specific immune reactions and potential graft rejection. Nationally, HLA antibody screening influences transplant candidacy decisions, organ allocation considerations, and perioperative planning for immunosuppression.

Key payers covered in the discussion include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise overview of clinical context and billing characteristics for CPT code 86807, plus practical benchmarking points relevant to laboratory and transplant programs.

Readers will learn what CPT code 86807 denotes clinically, where the service is typically performed, and which major payers are relevant for coverage considerations. The article summarizes available benchmarks and policy-relevant points in a national context and highlights areas where data was not provided. Data not available in the input is clearly noted; the focus remains on clarifying the clinical purpose and billing identity of the code for administrators, laboratory directors, and revenue cycle staff.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare86807CPTHLA antibody screeningtransplant immunologylaboratory testingpre-transplant evaluationimmunogeneticsclinical laboratory

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 86807 describes a laboratory screening that measures the percent reactive antibody in a transplant recipient's serum against potential donor human leukocyte antigens (HLA). This screening assesses the likelihood of transplant incompatibility by evaluating sequential recipient samples for HLA reactivity.

Service type: Immunogenetic laboratory testing (HLA antibody screening)
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital-based immunology/transplant laboratory

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 52-year-old patient with end-stage renal disease is evaluated for a living-related kidney transplant. The transplant center orders antibody screening to assess the presence and percent reactivity of recipient anti-HLA antibodies to potential donor antigens. The clinical workflow begins with the transplant coordinator sending recipient serum samples to the histocompatibility/immunogenetics laboratory. A lab analyst performs sequential serum screening using complement-dependent or solid-phase assays to determine percent reactive antibody (PRA) and to identify specific donor HLA incompatibilities. Results are reported to the transplant physician and surgical team to guide donor selection, crossmatch planning, desensitization strategy, and perioperative immunosuppression. Typical sites of service include hospital-based transplant immunology laboratories, independent reference immunology labs, and tertiary care transplant centers.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the physician/interpretive portion of a laboratory service, if applicable for consultative review of HLA results.
`TC`	Technical component

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RH0000X	Clinical Laboratory Immunology	Laboratory specialists who perform HLA and immunogenetics testing.
208000000X	Pathology	Pathologists overseeing complex laboratory testing and result interpretation.
207L00000X	Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technologist	Medical technologists performing the technical components of HLA assays.
2080P0207X	Transplant Immunology	Physicians coordinating transplant immunology testing and interpretation.

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`86807`	Antibody screen, percent reactive antibody to HLA (panel reactive antibody/prioritized reactivity)	Primary CPT code describing sequential recipient serum screening for percent reactive anti-HLA antibodies.
`86816`	HLA typing and crossmatch; tissue compatibility testing for organ transplantation (flow cytometry crossmatch)	Performed after antibody screening when a specific donor is identified to evaluate cellular crossmatch compatibility.
`86815`	HLA typing, level of resolution may vary (serologic or molecular methods)	Performed as part of donor and recipient typing to define HLA antigens used in antibody interpretation.
`86353`	Antibody identification; microtiter (solid phase)	Used when further identification of specific anti-HLA antibodies is required following a positive screen.
`86701`	Antibody detection and quantitation; viral or bacterial serology (example code for serologic methods)	May be used for ancillary serologic testing workflows in the immunology lab when needed for differential testing.

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