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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTransfusion Medicine ProceduresCPT cpt-86885-indirect-antiglobulin-coombs-test
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    CPT 86885: Indirect Antiglobulin (Coombs) Test for Serum Antibodies

    CPT code 86885 describes an indirect antiglobulin (Coombs) test performed by a laboratory analyst to detect antibodies in patient serum, typically classified as a clinical laboratory immunohematology service and usually performed in a hospital laboratory or commercial reference lab setting for transfusion compatibility, hemolytic disease evaluation, or antibody screening.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Hematology - Adzynma, Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancer, Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverage.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 28-year-old pregnant woman with a newly identified positive antibody screen on prenatal testing or a patient with unexplained hemolytic anemia. The clinician orders an indirect antiglobulin (Coombs) test (86885) to detect red cell–bound or free circulating IgG antibodies directed against red blood cell antigens. Specimen collection occurs in an outpatient clinic, emergency department, or hospital laboratory: a venous blood sample is drawn into proper anticoagulant (typically EDTA), transported to the clinical laboratory, and accessioned. The medical technologist or lab analyst performs the indirect antiglobulin procedure, incubating patient serum with reagent red cells, washing, and adding antihuman globulin reagent to detect agglutination. Results are reported to the ordering provider and placed in the electronic health record with interpretation (positive/negative and titer or specificity if reflex testing is performed). Common clinical workflows include prenatal antibody screening follow-up, workup of transfusion reactions, pretransfusion compatibility testing, and investigation of immune hemolytic anemia. Turnaround time varies by setting: stat testing in inpatient/emergency contexts vs routine in outpatient prenatal care. Documentation includes the ordered test (86885), specimen source, collection time, test method, result, and any reflex testing or antibody identification that may follow.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    86880Direct antiglobulin test (DAT), including polyspecific AHG and anti-IgG, polyspecific AHG with anti-C3 (if performed)Performed when antibody is already bound to patient red cells; complements 86885 in hemolysis workup.
    86900Crossmatch; serologic testing, major and minor crossmatch for transplantation and transfusion compatibilityOften performed alongside antibody detection prior to transfusion to ensure donor compatibility when antibodies are identified by 86885.
    86850Blood typing; ABO and Rh (D) group, including reverse grouping when performedTypically part of pretransfusion and prenatal testing panels preceding or accompanying the indirect antiglobulin test.
    86902Antigen typing for red cell antigens (e.g., extended phenotype)Used after antibody detection to identify patient and donor antigen profiles for transfusion planning.
    86901Antibody identification; serum or plasma, including titer when performedFollow-up testing when 86885 is positive to identify specific alloantibodies and guide transfusion management.

    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…
    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…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208D00000X
    207Q00000X
    207L00000X
    3336H0001X
    3747P1801X
    2084P0802X
    251X00000X
    207WX0108X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    D50.9Iron deficiency anemia, unspecified
    D59.0Drug-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia
    D59.8Other acquired hemolytic anemias
    D59.9Acquired hemolytic anemia, unspecified
    D61.9Aplastic anemia, unspecified
    D63.0Anemia in neoplastic disease
    D64.9Anemia, unspecified
    D66Hereditary factor VIII deficiency
    D67Hereditary factor IX deficiency
    D68.9Coagulation defect, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Hematology/Oncology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Hematology - AdzynmaCigna2026-10-15
    Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancerselect_health2026-10-01
    Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) CoverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Pennsylvania Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Epithelial Cell Cytology in Breast Cancer Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Factor VIII ProductsCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-86850-RBC-ANTIBODY-SCREENING

    CPT 86850: Screening Test for Non‑A/B Red Blood Cell Antibodies

    CPT-86860-RBC-ELUTION-IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY-BLOOD-BANK

    CPT 86860: RBC Elution for Antibody Detection

    CPT-86870-RBC-ANTIBODY-IDENTIFICATION-IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY

    CPT 86870: Antibody Identification to Red Blood Cells

    CPT-86880-DIRECT-ANTIGLOBULIN-TEST-DAT-COOMBS

    CPT 86880: Direct Antihuman Globulin (Coombs) Test

    CPT-86886-INDIRECT-ANTIGLOBULIN-COOMBS-TEST-SERIAL-DILUTIONS

    CPT 86886: Indirect Antihuman Globulin (Coombs) Test

    CPT-86890-AUTOLOGOUS-BLOOD-COLLECTION-PROCESSING-STORAGE

    CPT 86890: Autologous Blood Collection, Processing, and Storage

    CPT-86891-INTRAOPERATIVE-BLOOD-SALVAGE-AUTOTRANSFUSION

    CPT 86891: Intraoperative Blood Salvage (Cell Salvage)

    CPT-86900-ABO-BLOOD-TYPING-SERUM-PLASMA

    CPT 86900: ABO Blood Typing Using Serum or Plasma

    CPT-86901-RH-BLOOD-GROUP-TYPING-SEROLOGIC-PLASMA-SERUM

    CPT 86901: Rh Blood Group Serologic Typing, Serum/Plasma

    CPT-86902-ANTIGEN-SCREENING-DONOR-BLOOD-UNIT

    CPT 86902: Antigen Screen of Donor Blood Unit

    Showing 1–10 of 38

    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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