Clinical labs are vital for accurate diagnoses and effective treatment. They perform medical tests on biological specimens obtained from patients. Collaboration between healthcare providers and lab staff is easy as they are usually located within or near medical institutions. Clinical lab testing involves pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical stages. Understanding CPT codes and terminology is crucial for accurate diagnoses and prompt treatment. Let’s explore these codes together.

The Path to Accuracy: Common Clinical Lab CPT Codes

Table of Content

• 80048 – Unveiling the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
• 80061 – Lipoprotein Profiling
• 81001 – Bacterial, Quantitative Urine Colony Count Culture
• 82044 – Automated Urinalysis: Delving into the Secrets of Urine
• 82270 – Unveiling Hidden Blood: A Journey into Stool Testing
• 82310 – The Essence of Calcium
• 82570 – Creatinine in the Blood
• 83036 – Electrophoresis of Hemoglobin: A Window into Blood Sugar Levels
• 83550 – Iron Levels Revealed
• 83655 – Thromboplastin Time (PT): Seeking Clarity on Lead Levels
• 84132 – PSA: Illuminating the Prostate
• 84443 – TSH: The Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Quest
• 85004 – Blood Analysis and Platelet Count
• 85025 – Unlocking the Mysteries of the Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• 85027 – Hematocrit (HbA1c): Unveiling Clues in Blood
• 86038 – Decoding the Language of Blood Smears
• 86038 – Immunoassays: Qualitative or Semiquantitative
• 87046 – Embracing the Fungal Culture
• 87507 – Nucleic Acids: Unmasking Infectious Agents
• 88142 – Journey into the Cytopathology of Vaginal or Cervical Smears

Also Read: CPT Codes for Family Doctors

80048 – Unveiling the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP): This code serves as the gateway to the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) test, offering insights into a patient’s total calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, glucose, BUN, and creatinine levels through Blood analysis.

80061 – Lipoprotein Profiling: This code encompasses a series of examinations that measure various blood lipoproteins, including triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. The results provide valuable insights into a person’s lipid profile and cardiovascular risk.

81001 – Bacterial, Quantitative Urine Colony Count Culture: This code represents the laboratory examination involving the cultivation and quantification of bacteria present in a urine sample. It aids in diagnosing urinary tract infections and selecting the most effective antibiotic therapy.

82044 – Automated Urinalysis: Delving into the Secrets of Urine: This code denotes the use of reagent strips to conduct semiquantitative urine albumin or microalbumin analysis without relying on a chemical analyzer or other specialized devices.

82270 – Unveiling Hidden Blood: A Journey into Stool Testing: This code signifies the peroxidase activity method employed to detect hidden blood in a patient’s three consecutive fecal samples, usually preceding a colorectal cancer screening test. This test, often referred to as a FOBT (fecal occult blood test), plays a vital role in early detection.

82310 – The Essence of Calcium: This code signifies the blood test that unveils the body’s calcium levels, facilitating the evaluation of calcium-related abnormalities and conditions such as hyper- or hypocalcemia.

82570 – Creatinine in the Blood: This code signifies a blood test designed to measure creatinine, a waste product resulting from muscle metabolism. It serves as a valuable tool in evaluating kidney function and monitoring patients with renal diseases.

83036 – Electrophoresis of Hemoglobin: A Window into Blood Sugar Levels: This code reflects the analysis of Blood Sugar Levels bound to red blood cells’ hemoglobin. The duration of attachment spans the life of the red blood cell, approximately 120 days or more. As blood sugar levels rise, the amount of sugar linked to blood cells increases. The A1C test calculates the percentage of sugar adhered to red blood cells and provides valuable information.

83550 – Iron Levels Revealed: This code unlocks the secrets of the body’s overall iron levels through a blood test. It aids in the evaluation of iron deficiency or overload conditions, such as hemochromatosis or iron-deficiency anemia.

83655 – Thromboplastin Time (PT): Seeking Clarity on Lead Levels: This code represents the journey to determine the presence of lead in a patient’s specimen. The objective of this test often revolves around assessing lead exposure.

84132 – PSA: Illuminating the Prostate: This code measures the blood level of prostate-specific antigens, a key factor in the detection and follow-up of prostate cancer.

84443 – TSH: The Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Quest: This code unlocks the door to testing the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood. TSH, produced in the pituitary gland, aids in regulating thyroid function. The typical specimen for this test is blood drawn from an ordinary vein puncture.

85004 – Blood Analysis and Platelet Count: This code encompasses a comprehensive examination of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The analysis includes a white blood cell differential count, platelet morphology assessment, and red blood cell indices evaluation.

85025 – Unlocking the Mysteries of the Complete Blood Count (CBC): The Complete Blood Count (CBC) test unravels the secrets hidden within a patient’s blood, providing comprehensive information about various blood cell types and their composition. Conducted by a pathologist or technician, this test requires a blood sample obtained from the patient’s vein and preserved in an anticoagulant-filled test tube to prevent clotting.

85027 – hematocrit (HbA1c): Unveiling Clues in Blood: This code unlocks the mysteries of platelet, red blood cell, and white blood cell counts. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in whole blood samples are measured using spectrophotometry techniques, enabling insights into various blood-related conditions.

86038 – Decoding the Language of Blood Smears: This code represents the technical laboratory test conducted to detect antinuclear antibodies present in a patient’s serum.

86038 – Immunoassays: Qualitative or Semiquantitative: This code encompasses the technical laboratory test conducted to detect antinuclear antibodies, which target the nucleus of human cells in the serum.

87046 – Embracing the Fungal Culture: This code denotes the aerobic bacterial stool culture that isolates potential pathogens, excluding Shigella and Salmonella, while potentially identifying other pathogens.

87507 – Nucleic Acids: Unmasking Infectious Agents: This code signifies the lab’s quest to uncover 12 to 25 different types or subgroups of gastrointestinal pathogens, such as Clostridium difficile, E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, norovirus, and Giardia. The identification process utilizes multiplex reverse transcription and multiplex amplified probe techniques to identify nucleic acids.

88142 – Journey into the Cytopathology of Vaginal or Cervical Smears: By subjecting cervical or vaginal cytopathology specimens collected by doctors in the preservative fluid to technical laboratory tests, analysts evaluate and examine potential abnormalities. These specimens undergo an automated thin-layer preparation before being manually scrutinized under the supervision of a physician. The test may adhere to various reporting systems, including Bethesda and non-Bethesda methodologies.

Conclusion

The existence of standardized CPT codes for clinical laboratory tests empowers healthcare practitioners to accurately interpret and utilize lab test findings in the detection and monitoring of various disorders. While the CBC, PSA, glucose, and lipid tests remain popular, there are also specialized codes catering to specific disorders. By adopting these standardized codes, medical professionals can enhance patient outcomes while streamlining laboratory test processing. Together, let us embark on this path of knowledge and progress.