CPT 87486: Chlamydia pneumoniae Nucleic Acid Probe Test
CPT code 87486 denotes an amplified nucleic acid probe test for Chlamydia pneumoniae, a respiratory pathogen that can cause mild illness in children and more severe respiratory disease in adults. This molecular diagnostic code is nationally significant because it supports targeted clinical management of respiratory infections and informs infection control and epidemiologic surveillance.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for testing, typical sites of service, and the service type. The publication outlines commonly reported payer considerations and common billing modifiers associated with laboratory services. It also provides benchmarking context and policy-relevant notes to help billing and laboratory operations teams understand reimbursement landscapes and coding practice implications.
The report equips laboratory directors, billing specialists, and clinical leaders with clear information on what CPT code 87486 represents, why the test is used clinically, and the administrative aspects relevant at a national level. Data not available in the input is identified where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 87486 describes a laboratory test that detects Chlamydia pneumoniae using an amplified nucleic acid probe technique. The procedure targets the respiratory pathogen also known as TWAR (Taiwan Acute Respiratory agent) and is used to identify infection by this organism.
Service type: Infectious disease molecular diagnostic test
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory, performed on respiratory specimens