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Autoantibodies against CCP have been recognized and measured for several decades, by means of the anti-perinuclear factor (APF) and the anti-keratin antibody (AKA). However, these older tests were performed by a cumbersome immunofluorescence assay and were not commonly used in routine clinical practice. Following the recognition that APF and AKA activity were entirely dependent upon citrullination, attention turned toward measuring anti-CCP antibodies. Serum Anti-CCP levels are currently measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The first generation of anti-CCP testing (CCP1) used citrullinated proteins derived from human filaggrin. This method of testing was expensive and difficult to standardize, since it required purification of sufficient quantities of the human antigen. The second generation of anti-CCP testing (CCP2) uses a synthetic peptide antigen, thus making the test cheaper and easy to standardize. CCP2 is currently the only commercially available method for testing for anti-CCP antibodies. 

The INOVA Diagnostics QUANTA Lite™ CCP IgG ELISA and the Axis-Shield Diagnostics Diastat™ anti-CCP ELISA test received 510(k) marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 for use as an aid in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. According to the FDA statement for the Diastat, “autoantibody levels represent one parameter in a multi-criterion diagnostic process, encompassing both clinical and laboratory based assessments.” Additional anti-CCP tests have received 510(k) marketing clearance since 2002.

Measurement of anti-CCP is considered investigational when used to monitor disease activity and/or treatment response.

Investigative service is defined as the use of any treatment procedure, facility, equipment, drug, device, or supply not yet recognized by certifying boards and/or approving or licensing agencies or published peer review criteria as standard, effective medical practice for the treatment of the condition being treated and as such therefore is not considered medically necessary.

The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.

7/19/2007: Reviewed and approved by the Medical Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC)

1/7/2009: Policy reviewed, no changes

3/26/2009: Reviewed by the Medical Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) and policy statement updated to include medically necessary when used as a part of the diagnostic workup for rheumatoid arthritis.

4/3/2009: Code reference section updated. 86200 moved to covered table. ICD-9 diagnosis codes range 714.0-714.9 added to covered table.

02/08/2010:  Code Reference section updated to add ICD-9 Diagnosis Code 719.49 to the covered table. 

11/17/2010:  Added ICD-9 codes 719.40-719.48 and 719.50-719.59 to the Covered Codes table.

09/23/2011: Policy reviewed; no changes.

04/24/2013: Policy reviewed; no changes.

The code(s) listed below are ONLY covered if the procedure is performed according to the "Policy" section of this document.  

Covered Codes

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