CPT® Code 95079

Add-On Code

Ingestion challenge test (sequential and incremental ingestion of test items, eg, food, drug or other substance); each additional 60 minutes of testing (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

The ingestion challenge test is a diagnostic procedure used to identify specific allergies by observing the patient's reactions to various test items, which may include foods, drugs, or other substances. During this test, the patient sequentially and incrementally ingests these items under careful medical supervision. The physician closely monitors the patient for any allergic reactions that may occur, which helps in determining the presence of allergies to the ingested substances. The test is designed to replicate normal food consumption, taking into account the amount and state of the food or substance ingested. The observation period following ingestion is critical, as it aligns with the typical time frame for the onset of allergic symptoms based on the patient's medical history. For accurate coding, the initial 120 minutes of the ingestion challenge test is reported using CPT® code 95076, while CPT® code 95079 is utilized to report each additional 60 minutes of testing beyond the initial period.