2025 CPT code 87471
Effective Date: N/A Pathology and Laboratory Procedures > Microbiology Procedures Feed
Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana, amplified probe technique
Modifiers 59 and 91 are applicable.
Medical necessity for this test depends on the patient's clinical presentation and risk factors.Suspected cat scratch disease, opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, and unexplained endocarditis are examples of situations where this test might be medically necessary.
The laboratory analyst processes the specimen, performs the amplification technique (e.g., PCR), and uses a labeled nucleic acid probe to detect Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana. They interpret the results to determine if the bacteria are present.
In simple words: This lab test checks for the bacteria that cause cat scratch disease (Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana) in a blood sample. The test uses a special technique to make many copies of the bacteria's DNA or RNA, which makes them easier to find.A special "probe" then finds these copies and confirms whether the bacteria are present.
This test utilizes amplified nucleic acid probe technology to detect the presence of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana. The process involves amplifying specific target nucleic acid sequences from the specimen (e.g., blood) using techniques like PCR. A labeled nucleic acid probe then binds to the amplified sequences if present. The label allows for visualization and confirms the presence of the bacteria.
Example 1: A patient presents with swollen lymph nodes after a cat scratch. The physician orders this test to determine if it is cat scratch disease caused by Bartonella henselae., An HIV patient experiences fever, bacteremia, and skin lesions. This test helps identify if Bartonella quintana or henselae are contributing to the patient's condition., A patient with suspected endocarditis undergoes this test to see if Bartonella species are the underlying cause of the infection.
Documentation should include the reason for the test (e.g., symptoms, exposure to cats), the source of the specimen, and the date of collection.
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Pathology, Internal Medicine
- Place of Service:Independent Laboratory, Hospital, Office