AMA to issue new code for conjunctivitis test

Sarasota, FL-Rapid Pathogen Screening Inc. (RPS), a developer of point-of-care diagnostic devices for ocular diseases, has announced that the American Medical Association (AMA) will issue a new CPT code, 87809, for "Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; Adenovirus" to cover the company's proprietary test (Adeno Detector) effective Jan. 1.

The point-of-care test has been cleared by the FDA and waiver under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988. According to the company, it provides a definitive result in 10 minutes.

"The creation of a new CPT code reflects the value that the [test] provides to the patient, the clinician, and the health-care system at large," said Robert Sambursky, MD, chief medical officer, RPS. "With the CPT code, clinicians may use the [test] to diagnose and treat cases of acute conjunctivitis accurately. This not only will result in better patient care; it also will save millions in health-care dollars."