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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Watch Restrictions for CLIA-Waived HIV Test

Published on Thu Jul 29, 2004

Question: I've heard that CLIA-waived labs can perform an HIV serum test using fingerstick collection. What is the test, and how should we code it? California Subscriber Answer: The test is OraSure Technologies' OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test. The correct code for the test is 86701 (Antibody; HIV-1). If you perform this test at a lab that has a certificate of waiver under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), you must append modifier -QW (CLIA-waived test) to 86701. If your lab is considering adding this test, you should be aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines that you must follow, including rules about your quality assurance program, personnel training, and patient education. You can access the guidelines at http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/DLS/pdf/HIV/QA_Guidlines_OraQuick.pdf.
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