AMA Announces CPT Update for Antigen Tests in the Fight Against COVID-19

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced an update to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) that includes a new code for reporting antigen testing of patients suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

The update was approved during a special meeting of the CPT Editorial Panel, the independent body convened by the AMA with sole authority to expedite the review of proposed changes and additions to the CPT code set.

Antigen testing is designed to be quicker and simpler than other tests for the coronavirus and could be conducted at the point of care. A breakthrough in coronavirus antigen testing could become part of the broader solution for the widespread testing shortages.

“The new CPT code for antigen testing to detect the coronavirus is the latest in a series of CPT codes developed in rapid response to the pandemic,” says AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD. “Moving quickly during this crisis to meet the medical coding needs of the health care industry has enhanced the reporting of innovative tools now available to advance medicine's overarching goals of reducing the COVID-19 disease burden, improving health outcomes and reducing long-term care costs.”

The new code is intended for use as the industry standard for accurate reporting and tracking of antigen tests using immunofluorescent or immunochromatographic technique for the detection of biomolecules produced by the SAR-CoV-2 virus.

For quick reference, the new Category I CPT codes and long descriptors are:

87426       Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, (eg, enzyme immunoassay [EIA], enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], immunochemiluminometric assay [IMCA]) qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple-step method; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (eg, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19])

In addition to the long descriptors, short and medium descriptors can be accessed on the AMA website.

The new antigen test code is the latest update to the CPT code set since the CPT Editorial Panel expedited approval of new Category I codes to report molecular testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and serological testing for COVID-19 antibodies.

87635       Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique

86328       Immunoassay for infectious agent antibody(ies), qualitative or semiquantitative, single step method (eg, reagent strip); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19])

86769       Antibody; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19])

Development, review, and approval of the new CPT codes involved broad input from practicing physicians, commercial laboratories, and other experts.

Source: American Medical Association