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Describe a service in plain words, or type a CPT/HCPCS code.

Procedure · Updated Aug 1, 2026

Strep test: CPT code and Medicare rate

A throat swab for group A strep. 87880 is the rapid antigen test read in the office; 87651 is the more sensitive molecular test, often used to confirm a negative rapid result.

Also called: rapid strep, throat swab for strep, sore throat test.

Usually billed as

87880 Streptococcus Antigen Test

87880 has no national Medicare amount in the Q4 2026 release. Its status is statutory exclusion, and what Medicare pays depends on the circumstances of the individual claim.

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Strep test: which code is it?
87880—Streptococcus Antigen Test. A throat swab for group A strep. 87880 is the rapid antigen test read in the office; 87651 is the more sensitive molecular test, often used to confirm a negative rapid result.
Strep test: how much does Medicare pay?
87880 has no national Medicare amount in the Q4 2026 release. Its status is statutory exclusion, and what Medicare pays depends on the specific circumstances of the claim.

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This page maps everyday language to the code a claim normally carries. It's general information about how Medicare prices a service, not coding advice for a specific claim. The correct code always depends on what was actually documented and performed.

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