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Antigen Leukocyte Antibody Test (ALCAT)
Effective date
Not stated in the notice
Identified
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
BCBSMS considers the Antigen Leukocyte Antibody Test (ALCAT) investigational for all indications. The ALCAT is a blood test intended to identify foods and other environmental agents an individual may be intolerant to, and it is not intended to diagnose food allergies. The policy statement and code reference were changed from not medically necessary to investigational on 12/06/2022, and the policy was reviewed on 12/03/2025 with no changes.
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What to do
Action · 4 steps
01Billing team: Do not bill the ALCAT as medically necessary for these members, because the policy considers it investigational for all indications.
02CPT 83516 is listed in the policy's investigational codes table.
03Investigational means a treatment, procedure, facility, equipment, drug, device or supply not yet recognized as a generally accepted standard of good medical practice for the condition being treated, and therefore not considered medically necessary.
04Under the policy, a technology is not investigational only when it has final approval from the appropriate governmental bodies, scientific evidence permits conclusions about its effect on health outcomes, it improves net health outcome, it is as beneficial as any established alternative, and the improvement is attainable outside the testing or investigational setting.
Codes mentioned
83516
Original notice
Antigen Leukocyte Antibody Test (ALCAT)
bcbsms.com · Always check the source before changing claims.