Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

code from the 87140 family (Culture typing; ...) " Castillo says. These codes include some of the same detection methods such as immunofluorescent technique and nucleic acid probe. 3. Select Lab Method First
 
Once you know that you're coding antigen detection from a primary source you should first identify the lab method to help you select the proper code. Infectious agent antigen detection codes fall under four basic techniques each of which forms a family of codes. Each family shares a common code portion preceding the semicolon that describes the method as shown in the codes below:

   87260 - Infectious agent antigen detection by immunofluorescent technique; adenovirus
 Coders may see tests in this family described as "(organism name) by DFA " or "(organism name) by immunofluorescence."
   87301 - Infectious agent antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay technique qualitative or semiquantitative multiple step method; adenovirus enteric types 40/41
 
Labs may describe tests from this family as "(organism name) by EIA technique."
   87470 - Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana direct probe technique
   87471 - ... amplified probe technique
   87472 - ... quantification
 
"Notice that the nucleic acid technique typically lists three codes for each organism - direct probe technique amplified probe technique and quantification " Castillo says. Be sure to select the proper code based on this information whether the test is called a DNA probe an RNA probe or a nucleic acid probe.

   87802 - Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; Streptococcus group 3
   87810 - Infectious agent detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; Chlamydia trachomatis
 
Labs may describe these tests as "optical immunoassay." The key for these codes is that the lab makes the determination based on some visual observation such as a color change.   4. Select the Organism Next
 
Once you've identified the lab method used you'll need to know the name of the organism the lab tested for. Look under the lab-method parent code and find the organism name. CPT lists the organisms in alphabetical order under the parent code. For example after parent code 87260 you will see listings for 87265 (... Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis) in alphabetical order through 87290 (... Varicella zoster virus). "You'll have to look line by line for the infectious agent because you won't always find these codes by looking up the organism in the index " Castillo says.
 
"You won't find the exact same list of organisms under each method because [...]