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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

READER QUESTION ~ Report Metabolites per Analyte

Published on Fri Feb 09, 2007

Question: We perform a lab test for estrogen metabolites using HPLC/MS. Specifically, we quantify hydroxy estrones 2, 4 and 16. How should we code the service?

Maryland Subscriber Answer: The correct code for quantifying estrogen metabolites by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) is 82542 (Column chromatography/mass spectrometry [e.g., GC/MS, or HPLC/MS], analyte not elsewhere specified; quantitative, single stationary and mobile phase).

Because CPT does not provide an analyte-specific code, you should use the method code 82542 for -analyte not elsewhere specified.-

The code describes a single stationary and mobile phase -- which represents a single analyte. Because you quantify three separate analytes (2OH estrone, 4OH estrone, and 16OH estrone), you should report 82542 x 3.
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