2025 CPT code 86480
Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Pathology and Laboratory Procedures > Immunology Procedures Feed
Tuberculosis test, cell mediated immunity measurement of gamma interferon antigen response.
Modifiers may be applicable, such as modifier 91 for repeat testing.
Medical necessity for this test is established when there is clinical suspicion of TB infection, either latent or active, or when a patient has been exposed to someone with active TB.It is also useful for individuals who have received the BCG vaccine and may have a false positive skin test.
The lab analyst performs the technical steps of the test, which include mixing the patient's blood with TB antigens and then measuring the amount of interferon-gamma released using an ELISA technique.
In simple words: This blood test helps determine if you have been infected with tuberculosis (TB) by checking your immune system's reaction to TB proteins.It's more accurate than the skin test and is less likely to be affected by the TB vaccine.
This test evaluates a patient's cell-mediated immune response to specific tuberculosis (TB) antigens by measuring the amount of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) released by white blood cells after stimulation with TB-specific proteins.It is a blood test used to aid in the diagnosis of latent or active tuberculosis infection.The test is more specific than the tuberculin skin test and helps avoid false positives associated with the BCG vaccine.
Example 1: A patient with a positive tuberculin skin test but no symptoms of active TB is given this test to confirm the presence of a latent TB infection., A patient with symptoms suggestive of TB, such as cough, fever, and weight loss, undergoes this test to support the diagnosis of active TB., A healthcare worker who has been exposed to a patient with active TB is given this test to determine if they have been infected.
Documentation should include the reason for the test, patient symptoms (if any), history of TB exposure or BCG vaccination, and the test results, including the quantitative measurement of IFN-γ.
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Pulmonology
- Place of Service:Independent Laboratory, Office