Blood test measuring antibodies to deoxyribonuclease B, a marker of recent streptococcal infection that complements the ASO test.
- Medicare
- $0.00
- Work RVU
- 0
- Global, days
- Region
- Multi-region
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 2 cited references ↓
- Recent throat or skin infection history
- Joint findings and pattern
- Diagnosis of arthritis with suspected post-strep cause
- Order for anti-DNase B
- Lab report with result
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 2 cited references ↓
Anti-DNase B (86215) is the partner test to ASO. It also shows recent group A strep infection, but it stays elevated longer and is more reliable after strep skin infections. Some patients raise one antibody and not the other, which is why the two are usually ordered together.
In orthopedics, it supports the workup for post-streptococcal reactive arthritis and acute rheumatic fever. Picture a teenager with a swollen ankle that moves to the knee a week later, or a child with joint pain a few weeks after impetigo. A negative ASO with a positive anti-DNase B can still confirm recent strep.
Bill one unit per test. The diagnosis should show the joint findings and an infection history. Repeating the test before enough time has passed to show a rise is a frequent reason for denial, so document the reason for any repeat.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
| Work RVU | 0 |
| Practice expense RVU | 0 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0 |
| Total RVU | 0 |
| Medicare national rate | $0.00 |
| Global period | days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $0.00 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 86215 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- No infection history documented
- Repeat too soon to show a change
- Diagnosis limited to injury
- Duplicate claim with reference lab
- Billed under an unrelated antibody code
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 2 cited references ↓
01Why order anti-DNase B with ASO?
02Is anti-DNase B better after skin infections?
03Can 86215 be billed with 86063?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
- 01CMS Physician Fee Schedule 2026
- 02cms.govhttps://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/clinical-laboratory-fee-schedule-clfs
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe captures recent infections and how the joint pain moved over time, which is the story behind a post-strep antibody panel.
See how Mira captures CPT 86215 documentation