Summary & Overview
CPT 86835: HLA Class II Antibody Solid Phase Immunoassay
CPT code 86835 covers a laboratory solid phase immunoassay that quantifies patient serum antibodies to HLA Class II antigens. This test is a key component of transplant immunology workups and antibody surveillance, informing donor-recipient compatibility and risk assessment for rejection. Nationally, the code represents specialized immunologic laboratory services performed in clinical and hospital-based labs that support transplantation programs and complex immunology care.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find clinical context for when this assay is used, typical sites of service, and what the code represents in billing workflows. The publication outlines benchmarking and utilization perspectives, summarizes applicable policy considerations affecting coverage and reimbursement, and clarifies clinical relevance in transplant evaluation and monitoring. Where specific input data are not provided, the report notes that those items are not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 86835 describes a solid phase immunoassay performed on patient serum to quantify antibodies directed against Class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA). The procedure measures specific anti-HLA Class II antibodies to assess immune sensitization relevant to transplantation and immunologic evaluation.
Service type: Laboratory — Immunology / Transplant Antibody Testing
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital outpatient laboratory
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 48-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease being evaluated for kidney transplantation presents to the transplant clinic for pre-transplant immunologic testing. The transplant team orders HLA Class II antibody testing to evaluate for donor-specific antibodies that may increase risk of rejection. Blood is drawn in the outpatient phlebotomy lab; the specimen is routed to the immunology laboratory where a trained lab analyst performs a solid-phase immunoassay using the patient serum to quantify antibodies to specific Class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DR, HLA-DQ). Results are reported to the transplant nephrologist and transplant coordinator and incorporated into donor matching and immunosuppression planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default/No modifier | Use when no specific modifier applies to the service |
11 | Professional component | Use when reporting only the professional component if applicable (rare for lab tests billed separately) |