Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
Choose Specific GAD Code
Question: The lab performed an ELISA test for glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody on a serum specimen, but I can’t find a CPT® code for the procedure. Should I use 83516? Georgia Subscriber Answer: No, you should not report the test you describe as 83516 (Immunoassay for analyte other than infectious agent antibody or infectious agent antigen; qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple step method). To get to the correct code, you need to be aware of the clinical significance of the GAD antibody test. GAD is an enzyme produced primarily by pancreatic islet cells. Autoantibodies to GAD may indicate that the patient has autoimmune mediated diabetes, commonly known as type 1 diabetes mellitus. Because the GAD antibody test is for an islet cell antibody, the more specific (and therefore correct) code for the test you’ve described is 86341 (Islet cell antibody).
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Choose Specific GAD Code
Question: The lab performed an ELISA test for glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody on a serum [...]
