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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Immunofluorescent Studies Include Slide Prep

Published on Thu May 01, 2003

Question: When our lab performs immunofluo-rescence microscopy on a kidney biopsy, how should we code the service? If we do multiple antibody studies (IgG, IgA, etc.), can we report more than one code per specimen? Does 88331 apply because the pathologist performs the antibody studies on frozen sections? Colorado Subscriber Answer: Report the kidney biopsy as 88305 (Level IV Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, kidney, biopsy). For this one specimen, you can report each immunofluorescent antibody study as 88346 (Immunofluorescent study, each antibody; direct method) or 88347 ( indirect method), depending on the method.

Although 88331 (Pathology consultation during surgery; first tissue block, with frozen section[s], single specimen) is the correct code for frozen sections, do not report it in this case. The code describes a completely different service that involves an intra-operative consultation between the pathologist and the surgeon.  
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