CPT® Code 87505

Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); gastrointestinal pathogen (eg, Clostridium difficile, E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, norovirus, Giardia), includes multiplex reverse transcription, when performed, and multiplex amplified probe technique, multiple types or subtypes, 3-5 targets

The CPT® Code 87505 pertains to the detection of infectious agents through nucleic acid analysis, specifically targeting gastrointestinal pathogens. These pathogens are known to cause diarrheal diseases, which significantly contribute to malnutrition in children under five years of age and rank as the second leading cause of mortality globally. The procedure involves the simultaneous qualitative detection of various pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and parasites from fecal specimens collected from patients exhibiting signs and symptoms indicative of infectious colitis or gastroenteritis. During the testing process, the fecal sample is introduced into a culture medium where the nucleic acids, both DNA and RNA, of the pathogens are amplified using techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcription. Advanced technologies, such as the Luminex xTAG system, are employed to analyze the sample, determining the presence or absence of each targeted pathogen. The pathogens identified through this code include various types and subtypes of Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, norovirus, Rotavirus, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. The use of CPT® Code 87505 is specifically designated for panels that detect 3 to 5 pathogenic targets, while related codes 87506 and 87507 are utilized for panels with 6-11 and 12-25 pathogenic targets, respectively.