Medicare Benefits Schedule - Item 12005

Skin testing:

(a) performed by or on behalf of a specialist or consultant physician in the practice of the specialist or consultant physician’s specialty; and

(b) for agents used in the perioperative period (including prick testing and intradermal testing with a number of dilutions), to investigate anaphylaxis in a patient with a history of prior anaphylactic reaction or cardiovascular collapse associated with the administration of an anaesthetic; and

(c) including all allergens tested on the same day; and

(d) not being a service associated with a service to which item 12000, 12001, 12002, 12003, 12012, 12017, 12021, 12022 or 12024 applies

Fee: $90.20 Benefit: 75% = $67.65 85% = $76.70

(See para DN.1.22 of explanatory notes to this Category)

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Skin prick testing and Intradermal testing should always be performed in a medical setting with the ready availability of medical practitioners competent to treat systemic allergic reactions, and appropriate resuscitation equipment. Because intradermal testing carries a higher risk of anaphylaxis it should only be performed in a hospital setting (or equivalent) by either a specialist or consultant physician with proficiency and experience in all aspects of skin testing for allergy.

Item 12003 should only be used by appropriately trained doctors such as allergist immunologists or equivalently trained medical practitioners. An alternative to Skin Prick Testing (SPT) is serum specific IgE food allergen testing. Serum specific IgE (ssIgE) allergy blood testing to food panels is not recommended.

Item 12004 should only be used by appropriately trained doctors such as allergist immunologists or equivalently trained medical practitioners.

Item 12005 should only be used by appropriately trained doctors such as allergist immunologists, anaesthetists or equivalently trained medical practitioners.

Related Items: 12000 12001 12002 12003 12004 12005