US · guidance
CMS Pub. 100-03, ch. 1, § 190.9
Serologic Testing for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
(AIDS)
(Rev. 1, 10-03-03)
CIM 50-52
Serologic testing is employed to detect antibodies to the AIDS virus which is currently
identified by the term “human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).” The virus originally was
named “human T-cell lymphotropic virus, type III (HTLV-III),” a term that remains in
common usage.
Antibodies may be detected by a variety of immunoassay techniques, the most common
being an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). When an assay is reactive on
initial testing, it should be repeated on the same specimen. A more specific test,
(Western blot, immunofluorescent assay) is usually performed following repeatedly
reactive ELISA results.
These tests may be covered when performed to help determine a diagnosis for
symptomatic patients. They are not covered when furnished as part of a screening
program for asymptomatic persons.
NOTE: Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests that were conducted on
the same specimen must both be positive before Medicare will cover the Western blot
test.
History
(Rev. 1, 10-03-03)
Provenance
- Source
- cms.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-25
- Edition
- iom-2026-08-25
- Content hash
f71bbc9051210a49d7e9a024858ed227de1e86ad87c86b201feab846e494ff52
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