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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesInfectious Agent Antigen DetectionCPT cpt-87468-anaplasma-phagocytophilum-nucleic-acid-detection
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    CPT 87468: Anaplasma phagocytophilum Nucleic Acid Detection

    CPT code 87468 is a molecular diagnostic test that uses an amplified probe technique to detect nucleic acids from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the bacterium that causes anaplasmosis; this service is a pathology/microbiology infectious disease test typically performed in clinical laboratories or hospital laboratory settings on patient specimens collected for suspected tick-borne infection evaluation.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: B-Hemolytic Streptococcus Testing, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance Assays, Hepatitis Testing (A, B, C, D) Coverage Criteria.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 52-year-old outdoor worker from the Northeastern United States presents to an urgent care clinic in early summer with 5 days of fever, myalgias, headache, and malaise after a recent tick bite. The clinician documents concern for tick-borne infection and orders molecular testing for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. A blood sample is collected in appropriate transport media and sent to a reference microbiology laboratory capable of performing nucleic acid amplification testing. The laboratory receives the specimen, performs an amplified probe nucleic acid test specific for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and reports a positive result to the ordering clinician, who documents the result in the medical record and initiates appropriate therapy. Typical site of service: outpatient clinic, urgent care, emergency department, or reference laboratory performing the molecular test. Service type: amplified probe nucleic acid amplification test for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (87468).

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    86480Anaplasma phagocytophilum antibody; IgG or IgM, eachSerologic testing performed adjunctively to molecular testing to assess immune response; used for retrospective confirmation or paired serology.
    87802Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; multiple-step methodAlternative rapid antigen detection methods sometimes used in initial evaluation of infectious agents, though not specific for Anaplasma.
    87070Culture, bacterial, any source, screeningGeneral bacterial cultures may be ordered when bacterial febrile illness is in the differential; not diagnostic for Anaplasma but part of broader workup.
    87040Culture, bacterial, blood, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identificationBlood cultures are commonly obtained in febrile patients to evaluate for bacteremia alongside molecular testing for tick-borne pathogens.
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from a non-laboratory site to lab (if used)Administrative code that may apply when specimens are transported from clinic or ED to reference laboratory for 87468.

    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…
    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    2084P0800XPsychiatry PhysicianA Psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, …
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    208M00000XHospitalist PhysicianHospitalists are physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Their activities include patient ca…
    261QS1000XStudent Health Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
    163WR0006XRegistered Nurse First AssistantA perioperative registered nurse who works in collaboration with the surgeon and other health care team members to achieve optimal outcomes. The RNFA…
    209800000XLegal Medicine (M.D./D.O.) PhysicianLegal Medicine is a special field of medicine that focuses on various aspects of medicine and law. Historically, the practice of legal medicine made c…
    3416L0300XLand AmbulanceTransportation Services · Ambulance
    164X00000XLicensed Vocational NurseAn individual with post-high school vocational training and practical experience in the provision of nursing care at a level less than that required f…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    A69.20Lyme disease, unspecified
    A69.21Meningitis due to Lyme disease
    A77.0Spotted fever due to Rickettsia rickettsii
    A77.1Spotted fever due to Rickettsia conorii
    A77.9Spotted fever, unspecified
    A79.9Rickettsiosis, unspecified
    A92.9Mosquito-borne viral fever, unspecified
    A99Unspecified viral hemorrhagic fever
    B97.89Other viral agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Infectious Disease1 / 3

    9 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    B-Hemolytic Streptococcus TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance AssaysOscar Health2026-10-01
    Hepatitis Testing (A, B, C, D) Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Lyme Disease Testing Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pathogen Panel TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnostic Testing of Common Sexually Transmitted InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Vector-Borne InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Coronavirus Testing in the Outpatient SettingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Diagnosis of Active or Latent TuberculosisOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-87260-ADENOVIRUS-IMMUNOFLUORESCENT-ANTIGEN-DETECTION

    CPT 87260: Adenovirus Antigen Detection by Immunofluorescence

    CPT-87265-BORDETELLA-IMMUNOFLUORESCENT-ANTIGEN-DETECTION

    CPT 87265: Bordetella Antigen Detection by Immunofluorescence

    CPT-87267-ENTEROVIRUS-DFA-ANTIGEN-DETECTION

    CPT 87267: Enterovirus Antigen Detection by DFA

    CPT-87269-GIARDIA-IMMUNOFLUORESCENT-ANTIGEN-DETECTION

    CPT 87269: Giardia Antigen Detection by Immunofluorescence

    CPT-87270-CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS-IMMUNOFLUORESCENT-ANTIGEN-DETECTION

    CPT 87270: Chlamydia trachomatis Antigen Detection by Immunofluorescence

    CPT-87271-CMV-DFA-ANTIGEN-DETECTION

    CPT 87271: CMV Antigen Detection by Direct Fluorescent Antibody

    CPT-87272-CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-IMMUNOFLUORESCENT-ANTIGEN-DETECTION

    CPT 87272: Cryptosporidium Antigen Immunofluorescent Test

    CPT-87273-HSV-2-ANTIGEN-IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

    CPT 87273: HSV-2 Antigen Detection by Immunofluorescence

    CPT-87274-HSV-1-ANTIGEN-IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

    CPT 87274: HSV-1 Antigen Detection by Immunofluorescence

    CPT-87275-INFLUENZA-B-IMMUNOFLUORESCENT-ANTIGEN-DETECTION

    CPT 87275: Influenza B Antigen Detection by Immunofluorescence

    Showing 1–10 of 167

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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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