CPT® Code 81283

The CPT® Code 81283 pertains to the gene analysis of the interferon, lambda 3 (IFNL3) gene, specifically focusing on the identification of the rs12979860 variant. The IFNL3 gene is crucial as it encodes a cytokine that is part of the Type 1 interferons and the interleukin-10 (IL-10) family, which includes IL28A and IL29. This gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 19 at position 13, where it exists in a cluster with other related genes. The expression of the IFNL3 gene can be stimulated by viral infections, indicating its role in the immune response. The rs12979860 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant is particularly significant as it has been linked to susceptibility to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and influences the body's ability to spontaneously clear the infection. Additionally, this variant affects the response of infected individuals to antiviral drug treatments. The blood sample required for this analysis is obtained through a separate procedure, and the testing methods may include amplified refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) or polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), both of which are advanced techniques used to detect specific genetic variants.