CPT® Code 87556

The CPT® Code 87556 refers to a laboratory test designed for the detection of the infectious agent Mycobacteria tuberculosis through the use of nucleic acid amplification techniques, specifically targeting DNA or RNA. Mycobacteria tuberculosis is a gram-positive, acid-fast bacterium that is the causative agent of both latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis disease. This bacterium can affect the lungs, leading to pulmonary tuberculosis, or it can disseminate to other areas of the body. Common symptoms associated with pulmonary tuberculosis include a persistent cough, chest pain, and systemic symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, anorexia, fever, chills, and night sweats. The transmission of tuberculosis occurs primarily through respiratory secretions, making it highly contagious and potentially fatal if left untreated. The test utilizes an amplified probe technique, which significantly enhances the sensitivity of the assay by exponentially increasing the amount of target nucleic acid from the M. tuberculosis organism present in the sample. This is achieved through methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which replicate the target sequences into millions of copies. The amplified nucleic acids are then detected using labeled probes that specifically bind to the unique nucleic acid sequences of M. tuberculosis. This process allows for the identification of the bacterium even in low quantities, thereby facilitating timely diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis infections.