CPT® Code 85290

The CPT® Code 85290 refers to a laboratory test that measures the activity of clotting factor XIII, which is also known as fibrin stabilizing factor. This factor plays a crucial role in the preservation of blood clots, wound repair, and the overall healing process. A deficiency in factor XIII can lead to significant clinical issues, including defects in fibrin cross-linking, which may result in early spontaneous miscarriages or heavy menstrual bleeding in women. In infants, a deficiency can cause bleeding from the umbilical stump, while in children, it may lead to central nervous system bleeding following mild head trauma or spontaneously in adults. Additionally, individuals with factor XIII deficiency may experience bruising and soft tissue bleeding, particularly in the gums, muscles, and joints. Factor XIII deficiency is typically attributed to a rare inherited genetic disorder; however, it can also arise when auto-antibodies are triggered by certain medications, such as isoniazid. The test for factor XIII is most commonly ordered to confirm a deficiency when a qualitative test has yielded positive results. It is also utilized to monitor treatment in patients who are already known to have this deficiency. Furthermore, the test can be beneficial in evaluating patients who exhibit symptoms of abnormal bleeding, especially when standard bleeding time tests, such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and platelet levels, return normal results. To perform this test, a blood sample is collected through a separately reportable venipuncture, and the analysis is conducted on platelet-poor plasma using a chromogenic assay.