CPT® Code 87267

The CPT® Code 87267 refers to a laboratory test specifically designed for the detection of enterovirus antigens using the direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) technique. This test is crucial for identifying the presence of enteroviruses, which are small RNA viruses belonging to the picornaviridae family. Enteroviruses encompass a variety of species and serotypes, including well-known pathogens such as poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and echovirus. These viruses can lead to a range of clinical manifestations, particularly in infants and young children, who are most susceptible to infections. Common illnesses associated with non-polio enteroviruses include mild respiratory infections, hand, foot, and mouth disease, conjunctivitis, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, pericarditis, acute flaccid paralysis, inflammatory muscle disease, and severe neonatal sepsis-like disease. The testing process involves obtaining respiratory samples through methods such as nasopharyngeal swabs, aspirates, or washings, as well as fecal samples via rectal swabs or stool sampling. Once collected, the samples are treated with enterovirus antibodies that are conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate. This allows for visualization under an epifluorescence microscope. If enterovirus antigens are present in the sample, the antibodies will bind to them, resulting in a bright green fluorescence in the nuclei of infected cells, while non-infected cells will exhibit a dull red coloration. Although this DFA technique is relatively rapid, yielding results within 2-3 hours, it is important to note that it is less sensitive compared to the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, which is another diagnostic approach for detecting enteroviruses.