CPT® Code 87301

Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, (eg, enzyme immunoassay [EIA], enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], fluorescence immunoassay [FIA], immunochemiluminometric assay [IMCA]) qualitative or semiquantitative; adenovirus enteric types 40/41

The CPT® Code 87301 refers to a laboratory test designed to detect the presence of adenovirus enteric types 40 and 41 antigens in a sample using various immunoassay techniques. These adenovirus types are significant pathogens known to cause acute gastroenteritis, particularly in infants and children, and are recognized as leading causes of this condition, following rotavirus and norovirus. The symptoms associated with adenovirus infections typically include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting, which can persist for approximately 10 days. While the illness is generally self-limiting in healthy individuals, it poses a higher risk of severe outcomes in immunocompromised patients. To perform this test, a fecal sample is collected, which may be preserved in a fixative or sent fresh to the laboratory for analysis. The detection methods employed in this test include enzyme immunoassay (EIA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fluorescence immunoassay (FIA), and immunochemiluminometric assay (IMCA). Each of these techniques operates on the principle of binding the adenovirus antigen to a specific antibody, followed by the addition of a secondary antibody that is enzyme-labeled or fluorescent. The resulting reactions produce measurable signals, such as color changes or fluorescence, which indicate the presence of the antigen. The test results can be reported as qualitative, indicating the presence or absence of the antigen, or semi-quantitative, providing an estimate of the antigen concentration based on colorimetric readings or fluorescence intensity.