CPT® Code 87339

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; Helicobacter pylori

The CPT® Code 87339 refers to a laboratory test designed to detect the presence of antigens associated with Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative rod bacterium that can infect the lining of the stomach and/or duodenum. This infection is significant as it is linked to various gastrointestinal conditions, including gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and potentially low-grade gastric lymphoma. The bacterium is primarily transmitted from person to person or through contaminated food and water sources. The test can be performed on different types of samples, including stool or blood, utilizing various immunoassay techniques such as enzyme immunoassay (EIA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fluorescence immunoassay (FIA), and immunochemiluminometric assay (IMCA). These techniques are capable of detecting very small quantities of the H. pylori antigen by employing specific antibodies that bind to the antigen, followed by a detection method that produces a measurable signal, such as a color change or fluorescence. The 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 the intensity of the signal produced during the assay.