Lab & pathology
87389 — HIV-1 antigen with HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies; single result
A fourth-generation HIV combination screening test that detects both the p24 antigen (which appears very early in infection) and antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 in a single test, reporting one combined positive or negat...
- Typical setting: Hospital lab, reference lab
- National avg charge (illustrative): $15–$35 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $25–$90 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing the older HIV antibody-only test codes (86701, 86702) instead of 87389 when a fourth-generation combination Ag/Ab test was performed — many labs now use fourth-generation tests
What it means
What 87389 actually means
A fourth-generation HIV combination screening test that detects both the p24 antigen (which appears very early in infection) and antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 in a single test, reporting one combined positive or negative result. This is the currently recommended first-line HIV screening test.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Billing the older HIV antibody-only test codes (86701, 86702) instead of 87389 when a fourth-generation combination Ag/Ab test was performed — many labs now use fourth-generation tests
- Billing 87389 more than once per testing episode without documentation of a separate specimen collection and clinical indication
- Billing 87389 without appropriate HIV screening or diagnostic ICD-10 diagnosis codes, which leads to medical necessity denials
If you see 87389 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 87389 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
80050 — General health panel; includes CBC w/diff, CMP, TSH
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80051 — Electrolyte panel; CO2, chloride, potassium, sodium
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80053 — Comprehensive metabolic panel
If individual blood tests are also on your bill, you may have an unbundling error.
CPT
80055 — Obstetric panel; CBC w/diff, HBsAg, rubella Ab, syphilis, RBC Ab screen, ABO/Rh
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80061 — Lipid panel (cholesterol)
If you see HDL or LDL listed separately next to 80061, that's unbundling.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 87389 on a bill.
87389 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 87389 usually cost?
$15–$35 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $25–$90 commercial; varies by region. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 87389?
Billing the older HIV antibody-only test codes (86701, 86702) instead of 87389 when a fourth-generation combination Ag/Ab test was performed — many labs now use fourth-generation tests
What should I do if I see 87389 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 87389 before paying.
Don't pay 87389 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.