CPT® Code 86038

The CPT® Code 86038 refers to the testing for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), which involves obtaining a blood sample to screen for the presence of these antibodies or to measure their concentration, known as an ANA titer. Antinuclear antibodies are a specific type of auto-antibody that target the structures within the nucleus of cells, indicating a potential autoimmune response. Auto-antibodies are antibodies that mistakenly attack the body's own tissues, which can lead to various autoimmune disorders. The presence of antinuclear antibodies in the blood can suggest several conditions characterized by inflammation of body tissues, including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, scleroderma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, juvenile diabetes mellitus, Addison disease, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, glomerulonephritis, and pulmonary fibrosis. The testing process typically begins with a screening using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). If the screening yields a positive result, indicating the presence of antinuclear antibodies, a titer test is performed to determine the concentration of these antibodies. The titer is established by diluting the blood sample with saline solution in increasing amounts until the antibodies are no longer detectable, with results expressed in ratios such as 1:10, 1:20, 1:40, 1:80, etc. A higher second number in the ratio signifies a greater concentration of antinuclear antibodies in the blood.