2025 CPT code 81383
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Pathology and Laboratory Procedures - Molecular Pathology Procedures Feed
HLA Class II typing, high resolution (ie, alleles or allele groups); one allele or allele group (eg, HLA-DQB1*06:02P), each
Modifier 26 may be appended if only the interpretation and report are performed by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional.
Medical necessity is established by the clinical indication for the test. This might include organ transplant matching, diagnosis or management of specific diseases associated with HLA Class II alleles, or research studies.
The lab analyst performs all technical aspects of the test, including nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and identification of the specific HLA Class II allele or allele group using methods like hybridization with nucleic acid probes or direct sequencing-based typing.
In simple words: This specialized lab test analyzes specific genes related to the body's immune system. It's often used to find matches for organ transplants or to check for genes linked to certain diseases. The test looks at one specific gene group in detail, identifying its unique variations.
High-resolution HLA Class II typing for one allele or allele group. This involves identifying specific alleles, often to a 4-digit HLA name (e.g., DQB1*06:02P), for purposes such as disease association or transplant compatibility.It includes all analytical steps from nucleic acid extraction to allele identification, and may involve reporting a string of alleles or a National Bone Marrow Donor Program code for rare alleles. (When testing for the presence or absence of more than 2 alleles or allele groups at a locus, use 81382 for each locus.)
Example 1: A patient needs a kidney transplant, and this test is performed to identify the HLA Class II alleles of the potential donor and recipient to determine compatibility and minimize the risk of rejection., A physician suspects a patient has narcolepsy, a sleep disorder, and orders this test to check for the presence of the HLA-DQB1*06:02P allele, which is strongly associated with the condition., A patient is diagnosed with a certain autoimmune disease, and this test is used to determine the specific HLA Class II alleles present to help predict the disease course or response to treatment.
Documentation should include the medical reason for the test (e.g., organ transplant, disease diagnosis), the specific HLA Class II allele or allele group tested, and the test results.
** For tests involving more than two alleles or allele groups at the same locus, use code 81382. Preliminary procedures like tissue selection or microdissection are reported separately with appropriate codes (e.g., 88363, 88380). Physician interpretation of test results can be reported separately with G0452 and modifier 26 (for Medicare and some other payers). While HLA typing is crucial in transplant histocompatibility, the acquisition costs of organs are handled differently and are generally not billed as stand-alone lab services. CPT® 81383 specifically relates to HLA Class II typing and should not be confused with other HLA-related codes such as 81381 (HLA-B*15:02 Genetic Testing) which has different coverage guidelines.
- Specialties:Clinical Immunology/Allergy,Pathology,Transplant Surgery
- Place of Service:Independent Laboratory, Outpatient Hospital