CPT® Code 86406

Particle agglutination tests are laboratory procedures used to assess the presence and levels of specific antibodies in a patient's blood. These tests play a crucial role in evaluating infection status and identifying various viral and bacterial infections. For instance, they can be utilized to detect infections caused by the measles virus, streptococcal bacteria, or Treponema pallidum, which is responsible for syphilis. The CPT® Code 86406 specifically refers to the titer measurement of each antibody following a positive screening result. This means that if an initial screening test indicates the presence of an antibody, the titer test is performed to quantify the level of that antibody in the serum or plasma. The process begins with obtaining a blood sample through a venipuncture, which is a separate reportable procedure. The serum or plasma is then subjected to various testing methods, including semiquantitative hemagglutination, fluorescent enzyme assays, and light flow cytometry, to accurately determine the antibody titer levels.